Blue moon is an ice cream flavor with bright blue coloring, available in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Multiple cities in the region claim to be the originator, with the popular theories including Plainwell, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Ludington, Michigan. The Chicago Tribune has described the ice cream as "Smurf-blue, marshmallow-sweet". Blue moon ice cream is one of the flavors that make up Superman ice cream in certain states. Blue moon is found mainly in the Midwest—Wisconsin and Michigan in particular. It is found less frequently in other U.S. states, though it has been sold as far south as Washington, D.C. Kilwins also provides this flavor in various states. It is a common flavor in ice cream shops in Arvada, Colorado.

Characteristics

The varieties of blue moon vary in both color and flavor. Many aficionados of each variety of blue moon claim that their variety is the "real one", the "original", etc. Some dairies that make blue moon keep their ingredients a secret, adding to the mystique. Varieties that have distinct berry or vanilla flavor notes are sometimes theorized to have been originally flavored with castoreum.

Similar international flavors

A similar flavor has been sold in both Italy and Malta under the name puffo, which is Italian for 'Smurf', as well as in Germany under the names Schlumpf and Engelblau, which translate to 'Smurf' and 'angel blue', respectively. In France, it is called schtroumpf and in Spain pitufo (both meaning 'Smurf'). In Slovenia is modro nebo ('blue sky'), and in Argentina as crema del cielo ('sky cream'). In Poland, this variety of ice cream is called smerfowe ('Smurf-like') and is usually bubble-gum flavored.