Potato ice cream proves a hit with Temple Bar tourists

Louise Walsh

The owners of a family-run farm have created potato ice cream, and tourists to Dublin are loving it.

The Hanlon family of Muchgrange Farm were themselves dubious when asked if they could make potato gelato, but say the amazing taste of the recipe has surprised them.

The potato gelato is in huge demand in Dublin's Temple Bar, where tourists can't get enough of the flavour from stockists The Grá.

The Hanlons first started diversifying into gelato ice cream on the farm three years ago to make use of the unused cream from low-fat milk.

Now they have over 20 flavours and are constantly creating new ones to add to the Muchgrange Farm range.

"A few months back, we were asked by the owners of The Grá if we could make potato gelato, and I'd never heard of it before," said Gabrielle Hanlon.

"So we got on to some of the Italian chefs we are working with and they came back with this recipe and we said we would give it a go.

"We weren't expecting the results to be that good but the results were phenomenal, and The Grá can't keep it in the place. It's one of their best sellers.

"We aren't aware of anyone else selling potato gelato in Ireland, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it tastes."

Gabrielle isn't giving the recipe away, but does admit the gelato contains potatoes, along with a bit of butter and salt, alongside other secret ingredients.

"It's like a savoury boiled potato taste, a little salty-sweet."

Owner of The Grá, Conor Coyle, said the word that people were most using to describe the potato gelato was "unexpected".

The Grá works with artists to create on-demand, individual T-shirts using sustainable materials. They partnered with Muchgrange Farm to give customers a taste of Irish-made gelato.

"I went and asked Muchgrange Farm if they could do a potato ice-cream because I was trying to find a flavour that would be unique and get people talking, and they did, and it has been a real hit with us," he said.

"It has got us onto a food tour group in Temple Bar, and a number of groups come in every day to sample the potato gelato. It's gone international. I've had visitors from all over the world trying it and the general reaction is 'unexpected' - that's a word I hear a lot. It is much nicer than they are expecting.

"It's definitely a flavour that catches people's attention and imagination. After all is said and done, the Irish people still love their spuds!"

As well as Dublin's Temple Bar, the potato gelato can be bought at the Muchgrange Farm Shop on the Cooley Peninsula, near Carlingford in Co Louth.

"There wouldn't be as much of a demand for it here as in Dublin but then again, people aren't too much aware of it yet but it's flying out the door in Dublin.

"We had an open day here recently where students from DkIT (Dundalk College) blind tasted it and loved it. A few guessed correctly that there was potato in the ice cream."

The Hanlons farmed for generations at Muchgrove, but it was in 2021 that Gabrielle and Ciaran's son Michael John started thinking about diversification and began pasteurising and selling the milk from their farm shop and local outlets.

"We started to bottle it ourselves, and local coffee shops began to stock it, and after a few months, there was a great demand for the products.

"We were toying with the idea of making gelato when an Italian chef visiting another local company produced a batch of gelato using Muchgrange milk and was amazed at the quality.

"I think the secret is the mix of milk and cream for the full flavour but with a lighter taste. People seem to love it. We have over 20 flavours, but the most popular at the moment is our raspberry and white chocolate, honeycomb, milky moo and salted caramel.

"As well as the potato gelato, we also make seasonal gelato such as Christmas pudding and Baileys varieties."

More information can be obtained at muchgrangefarm.ie.