Salt & Straw Doesn't Want Bug-Filled Ice Cream To Make You Scream

With October finally here, the Halloween spirit is in full force across the country. Some companies are getting in on the holiday fun with the launch of limited-time Halloween products, and Salt & Straw, an ice cream chain based in Portland, Oregon, is no exception. On September 29th, the company announced its highly anticipated Halloween lineup, and its content shocked some fans.

The company typically sports some pretty unique flavors, such as Arbequina Olive Oil and Pear & Blue Cheese. But, the ice cream brand's newly released lineup, named the "Ice Scream Series," may be its most daring endeavor so far.

While some delicious blends are easy crowd-pleasers, like the Jack o' Lantern Pumpkin Bread (a scrumptious fall-themed blend of cream cheese frosting, fresh pumpkin bread, and seasonal spices), some are more surprising. One of the aptly named flavors, Don Bugito's Creepy Crawly Critters, contains real bugs mixed into the ice cream. Yes, really. 

Don Bugito's Creepy Crawly Critters is a matcha ice cream with toffee-brittle mealworms and chocolate crickets, according to the site. Obvious from the name, Salt & Straw has partnered with Don Bugito, a "Prehispanic Snackeria," to make this treat. The company provided them with both crickets and mealworms for the ice cream concoction. 

Don Bigito's founder, Monica Martinez, aims to "rescue ancestral food practices and the use of clean ingredients by offering alternative protein snacks based on farmed edible insects and native American ingredients," according to the site. Salt & Straw wanted to pay homage to this by including edible insects in its delicious ice cream blends and help change the perception of eating bugs.

And, don't worry. You don't have to be on the West Coast to partake in this festive treat. The company ships across the country, so you can get your indulgent dose of Halloween spirit this year. After one bite, we promise we won't have to "bug" you to try it again.