Ben & Jerry's New Marshmallow Pint Gets Its Pretty Color From Algae

Ben & Jerry's has really kicked off 2024 with a bang. In January, the company released two new pints with extra large toppings, and now, they've announced that longtime fan-favorite Marshmallow Sky will be coming to grocery stores for the first time ever. Up until now, Marshmallow Sky was only available at Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops, but now, pints of this beloved ice cream flavor will be sold in the freezer aisle at an MSRP of $4.99–$6.99. However, this is a limited-time offering. Once this batch of Marshmallow Sky sells out, it won't be returning to grocery stores.

Marshmallow Sky is inspired by the iconic scene printed on every Ben & Jerry's pint: a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. It includes marshmallow swirls along with pieces of chocolate and chocolate chip cookie dough, but the highlight is the marshmallow-flavored ice cream base, which stands out for its sky-blue hue. This bright color is thanks to a surprising ingredient that you probably wouldn't expect to find in ice cream: algae. Specifically, Marshmallow Sky contains spirulina, which has become one of the buzziest ingredients in the food business over the past few years.

Spirulina is a type of edible cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae. It's been used in the foods of certain cultures for centuries but didn't really show up on American radars until the 1970s when it began being sold as a nutritional supplement. If you tried spirulina back then, you'll remember that it was dark green, not a vibrant blue like Ben & Jerry's Marshmallow Sky. 

So how did the originally green powder become a blue food dye? For that, we can thank science. It turns out that spirulina contains a very rare pigment called phycocyanin that can be extracted to create a pure blue hue. It's been used as a natural coloring agent in candies, beverages, cereals, and more. The algae is also known for its purported health benefits. While spirulina is a rich source of protein — which is part of the reason it's popular as a "superfood" smoothie ingredient — however, there has not been enough research at this point to indicate a significant impact on health. 

But for Marshmallow Sky ice cream, what really matters is blue spirulina's fanciful color. Ice cream should be all about fun, and evoking a sense of childhood wonder. Capturing the summer sky in a pint of sweet dessert sure fits that bill.