I will unashamedly admit that I have a raging sweet tooth, particularly for fruity desserts, and I will die on the hill that says Dole Whip is the best fruity dessert there is. I tried it for the first time at Disneyland when I was a kid and my life has been forever changed.
Dole Whip is a fruit-flavored soft serve with 10 flavors that uses water instead of milk as a base, meaning that it’s not technically ice cream.
According to my meticulous research—which consisted of a scroll to the bottom of the first page of Google—there hasn’t been a consensus on which of these 10 flavors is the best. I have tried all of them and have decided to take up the mantle as the first person—as far as we know—to rank all 10 official Dole Soft Serve products from worst to first.
This ranking will be based on a rigid, objective source that is always correct: me.
10. Orange
Don’t hate me just yet. Most people I’ve talked to say orange is fine, but the flavor is way too artificial and fake. Citrus flavors are hard to capture in any dessert without making them taste unnatural, but Dole’s orange goes a bit too far here. It takes the last spot.
9. Lemon
I don’t understand why lemon is such a hard flavor to do right because the taste of a lemon is so strong. Here, it’s very subtle and isn’t tart like you’d imagine. And no, you can’t justify the milk in the treat drowns it out because Dole Whip doesn’t have any milk. Lemon just disappoints.
8. Watermelon
Watermelon falls flat for flavor strength just like lemon. The fruit itself isn’t super sweet in general, and its Dole Whip version is the same. If you don’t like soft serve that’s overly sweet and isn’t citrus, then watermelon might be a good way to go. Even then, there is still a ton of room for improvement.
7. Lime
I promise this is the last time I’m going to bag on the citrus flavors. Lime itself can’t stand alone as a strong flavor and works better in the supporting role. Think cherry lime, strawberry lime or even lemon lime. Does lime-flavored soft serve even sound appealing to anyone? I’m disappointed just thinking about lime-flavored ice cream. Like the other citrus flavors, it isn’t super strong and isn’t spectacular. It’s just lime.
6. Pomegranate
Pomegranate might legitimately be one of the best fruits to ever exist, and its Dole Whip flavor holds up pretty well. It has a stronger flavor and a beautiful deep red color, and I’d consider it the first actually good flavor on this list. It stands solid among the juggernauts before it and can hit the spot if you’re in the mood for a more unique flavor.
5. Raspberry
Honestly, pomegranate could take this spot just as easily, but raspberry eeks by only because it’s a little bit sweeter—curse my sweet tooth. Its flavor sticks out and doesn’t taste artificial like the citrus ones. Again, if you’re looking for something a little more unique with basic fruit flavors, this is definitely the way to go.
4. Strawberry
Now we’ve reached the big boys on the block. Strawberry comes in a beautiful pink color and has a really fresh flavor that amplifies the flavor of a normal strawberry without being too sweet or artificial. It’s one of the most refreshing flavors to enjoy on a hot day if you ask me. I know people who would put this in the No. 1 spot, but the top three are difficult to beat.
3. Mango
It’s gorgeous. It’s sweet. It delivers such a unique mango flavor that I’ve never tasted in any other mango treat. It doesn’t fall into the artificial trap like lots of the other flavors and has such a tangy, mouthwatering taste that just hits the spot. It’s a unique fruity flavor that isn’t seen very often in lots of ice cream shops, but it is definitely a must-try.
2. Cherry
Hear me out on this one. I know cherry isn’t a common first pick for flavor in general, but Dole did a great job with this one. Cherry can be a victim of a weak, lackluster flavor, but the best way I can describe it here is rich and full. You can really taste the sweet, soothing cherry without being overwhelmed by the sugar or an artificial taste. It’s quite delectable and tastes amazing when paired with a vanilla twist.
1. Pineapple
Is it really a shock that this is the No. 1? It’s the most well-known and for a good reason. Pineapple is the best flavor by far and perfectly balances the sweetness and tanginess of a real pineapple. Again, it doesn’t taste artificial and is the best soft serve I have ever had. It stands strong because since its base is water, the flavor isn’t muddled by the milk. 10/10.
Menchie’s on St. George Boulevard sells pineapple Dole Whip if you’d like to try it yourself, and I promise you won’t be disappointed if you do.
