When it comes to Okinawan ice cream, “Blue Seal” is the most famous.
It is a must-try when visiting Okinawa, and is popular among Japanese and foreigners alike.
Blue Seal is perfect for the blue ocean and sky of Okinawa. The sweet, cold ice cream is a treat to soothe the heat.
There are more than 30 flavors to choose from, including standard, Okinawan, American, and limited time offerings. The showcase of Blue Seal ice cream is a pop-up, colorful and fun to look at.
The logo is also very cute, and goods such as T-shirts and towels are also very popular.
Blue Seal was actually an ‘ultra-premium’ product when it was first created. And, to tell the truth, Blue Seal was not born in Okinawa, but was born and raised in the USA.
In this article, I, an Okinawan resident, will introduce what kind of ice cream Blue Seal is and the rare flavors that are unique to Okinawa.
- Overview of Blue Seal ice cream
- Where is Blue Seal made?
- A refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth flavor that is adapted to Okinawa's climate
- The most popular Okinawan flavors
- The largest number of stores in Okinawa Prefecture
- Wear Blue Seal goods and enjoy Okinawa to the fullest!
Overview of Blue Seal ice cream
Blue Seal is the most famous ice cream in Okinawa.
Blue Seal was born in the US and raised in Okinawa, and was founded in 1948 in what is now Uruma City, Okinawa.
At that time, Uruma City was under US rule, and Blue Seal was established on a US military base.
At that time, dairy products were precious, and Blue Seal ice cream was only available on the base and was unfamiliar to the general Okinawan population.
In 1963, a directly managed parlor was set up outside the US military base for general sales, and the base was moved to Makiminato, Urasoe City, where the current head office is located, and the history of the ice cream brand in Okinawa began.
Despite the fact that ice cream was an expensive food at that time, many people visited the store.
Blue Seal ice cream was a special dessert that could only be found here, and it became a favorite of the Okinawan people.
Where is Blue Seal made?
Blue Seal ice cream is made at the headquarters factory of Formost Blue Seal K.K., located in Makiminato, Urasoe City, Okinawa.
There used to be an interactive museum called Blue Seal Ice Park next to the factory where visitors could tour the factory, but it is now closed and the production process cannot be seen.
A refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth flavor that is adapted to Okinawa's climate
The base of “Blue Seal” ice cream originated in the US, but it was modified to suit the hot and humid climate of Okinawa.
It is made with vegetable oil for a refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and is characterized by its richness, but also by its smoothness and ease of eating.
In addition to the standard ice cream flavors of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, there are also many flavors unique to Okinawa.
The Okinawa Summit in 2000 led to the creation of a series of flavors using local Okinawan ingredients. It is our desire as a brand representing Okinawa to promote local production for local consumption and to make Okinawan flavors more familiar to people!
The most popular Okinawan flavors
The most popular of the Okinawan flavors in the Blue Seal lineup is the “Salted Chinsuko” flavor.
It is an Okinawan version of the Vanilla & Cookie flavor, using salt from the town of Chatan, Okinawa, to recreate the famous Okinawan confection chinsuko, making it a true Okinawan ice cream.
In addition to the salted chinsuko flavor, there are other Okinawan flavors such as Okinawa taimo cheese cake flavor, ube flavor, and beni-imo flavor.
"Taimo" is a type of taro grown in rice paddies and is characterized by its stickiness.
"Ube” is the Filipino word for ‘daijo (red yam),’ which is stickier and has a bright purple color.
"Beni-imo" is, of course, a reddish-purple colored sweet potato, a specialty of Okinawa.
It is recommended to compare these three types, which look similar but have their own characteristics, and discover the differences between them.
In addition, there are also other refreshing flavors such as shikwasa sherbet flavor and island pineapple coconut flavor, brown sugar flavor, and Ryukyu tea warabi mochi flavor, amongst others.
Try the shikwasa sorbet flavor for a refreshing ice cream, or the brown sugar flavo” if you are hungry and want a satisfying ice cream. Choose whichever flavor you want depending on your mood.
The largest number of stores in Okinawa Prefecture
There are 17 Blue Seal stores in Okinawa Prefecture.
The main store is located in Makiminato, Urasoe City, and there is one store on Ishigaki Island and two on Miyako Island. The company has also expanded out of Okinawa to the Kanto, Chubu, and Kinki areas.
Even if you are not in a Blue Seal store, you can find the ice cream in cup form in some cases, and it is also available at coffee shops, ports, and hotels in Okinawa Prefecture.
You can almost certainly find the Cup Ice Cream, Taachi Bar, and Polar Bear series in convenience stores and supermarkets in Okinawa Prefecture.
Even if you don't have a store nearby, you can still enjoy Blue Seal ice cream.
Wear Blue Seal goods and enjoy Okinawa to the fullest!
The Blue Seal logo is very pop and impressive, and there are many goods available, including T-shirts, towels, bags, and more.
Wearing a T-shirt with the Blue Seal logo on it will make you feel like it is always summer. It will be a great memory if you wear matching T-shirts with your fellow travelers.
You can find Blue Seal T-shirts at souvenir shops.
Okinawa is famous for its Blue Seal ice cream!
Fun to look at, fun to eat, and fun to wear, it is the one thing that brightens up your trip to Okinawa.
When you visit Okinawa, be sure to enjoy Blue Seal ice cream!
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