No trip to Charlottetown is complete without a stop at COWS Ice Cream, and it absolutely lives up to the hype. The ice cream is rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor, made right here on Prince Edward Island. Every scoop tastes homemade and perfectly balanced — not too sweet, just pure indulgence.
The waffle cones are freshly made and buttery crisp, the kind that makes the whole shop smell amazing. Whether you go classic with Wowie Cowie or adventurous with one of their limited-edition flavors, you really can’t go wrong.
In the short time I spent in Canada this fall I indulged in the Cownadian Maple Crunch, Chunky Chocolate Mint, Cookie Dough and the Fluff N’ Udder.
First… Let’s talk about the ice cream in general. I LOVE ice cream. This is by far some of the best I have ever had. I am also one who tends to stick to their favorites but as you will see below I tried lots of flavors and they were all worthy of becoming my next forever order.
Cownadian Maple Crunch: this is sweet creamy and smooth. Almost like maple syrup but not so sugary you could not eat it. The flavor is so pronounced and natural not fake. The cookie bites add nice texture and crunch. If you have that maple hankering this is a great choice.
Chunky Chocolate Mint: The flavor was bold and refreshing, with the perfect balance of cool mint and rich chocolate chunks that melt just enough to blend into every bite. Good crunch to the chunks balance velvety smooth ice cream to bonus ingredients.
Fluff ’N Udder: Pure fun in a cone! Creamy chocolate and peanut butter ice cream swirled with ribbons of marshmallow fluff. It’s rich, nostalgic, and perfectly balanced — like a peanut butter cup meets a s’more. Fantastic texture…cold crisp mini PB cuts and sticky soft marshmallow. It was Udderly Amazing.
Cookie Dough: Thick, buttery chunks of dough in COWS’ signature ultra-creamy vanilla base. It wasn’t just the perfect balance but the sheer amount of dough bites…you could bake a sheet of cookies if you pulled these out. Every bite reminded me why COWS is a PEI icon.
Don’t forget the finishing touch; the cone! Remember that waffle smell I mentioned it’s the result of a fresh house-made waffle cone that’s warm, crisp, and perfectly sweet. I did the one with jimmies (sprinkles) on the outside. Fabulous addition.
COWS is a fun, nostalgic stop that captures the island’s charm in every lick. COWS is a true PEI institution — delicious, playful, and...
Read moreFrom the location and amount of square footage allocated to non-ice cream merch, it seems like a tourist trap, but COWS is the real deal. The ice cream isn't piled higher than the refrigeration is ideally built for the way a lot of gelato stored present their food, but you can still see how appealing it looks inside of the containers, and the taste, texture and temperature is all perfect. Staff is incredibly fast for how high the customer volume is at certain times, and they're very friendly.
The reputation seems similar to that of Ben & Jerry's in the US, but the quality is definitely higher, the flavors are just plain better, and it seems as if legitimate imagination went into each one rather than just changing different levels of chocolate, caramel and the occasional fruit. Choosing one or two flavors was actually kind of difficult.
It would be nice if there was a description of each flavor on the board behind the counter because many of the names are similar or not as descriptive, but there are descriptions on the cooler labels, so that makes it easier to know what it is you're ordering. You just have to make sure you check them before you order, or you might see one you wanted even more on your way to...
Read moreAfter visiting COWS Creamery on Queen Street in PEI during a cruise last year, we couldn’t wait to return. This charming spot has quickly become one of our favorite places, and we were thrilled to visit again.
The service at COWS is consistently excellent, with friendly staff who genuinely seem to enjoy their jobs. They greet you with warm smiles and are always ready to help you choose from their incredible selection of ice cream flavors. Speaking of ice cream, it is rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious! Every scoop feels like a treat, and there are so many flavors to choose from that it’s hard to pick just one.
In addition to the ice cream, COWS Creamery offers a variety of clothing and accessories to browse and purchase. The merchandise features their iconic cow-themed designs, making for great souvenirs or gifts. It’s a fun experience to look around and find something unique to take home.
Overall, visiting COWS Creamery is just a really enjoyable stop. The combination of delightful ice cream, friendly service, and fun shopping makes it a must-visit location in PEI. I can’t wait to...
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