Price: 2 litres, $6.50

Blue Ribbon has always felt a bit posh, its picture of a blue ribbon forging a subliminal link to being a “winner”. Sadly, in this very competitive field, Blue Ribbon was a bantamweight in a middle-weight category. After being spoilt with real vanilla bean, “fake as f---” was one comment from the panel and overall the mouthfeel was considered too “fluffy”, rather than creamy. What was great was the parfait recipe on the tub – a lovely touch.

Real vanilla bean: No

Scoop factor: Soft

Eat with: Lashings of chocolate syrup.

Score: 2/5

Price: 1 litre, $8.50

Structurally looser and less creamy than its competitors, Sara Lee’s fleck-free French Vanilla was surprisingly and unanimously given only a pass by the panel. The biggest complaint was its texture, described as “watery” and “too melty”. Who did love this one were the teens and under-fives, scoffing the lot before crying, “Ow! Ice-cream headache!”

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Soft

Eat with: Chocolate sauce and strawberries.

Score: 2.5/5

Price: 1 litre, $6

By jingo, for $6 this one-litre tub from Aldi is a classic all-rounder that will please most palates. Errs on the milky rather than creamy side, with a soft, pleasing vanilla flavour and a clean mouthfeel.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Soft

Eat with: A banana sundae loaded with toppings and crushed nuts.

Score: 3/5

Price: 1 litre, $9

“I wouldn’t kick it out of bed,” said one taster. “A bit like nougat or honey,” said another. Much to-do is made about its “Hero ingredient Madagascan vanilla” and at 0.05 per cent, the vanilla flavour has good pow-factor; it even suggests you’ll be “carried away” with one bite, presumably to Madagascar, which – in truth – would be pretty cool. Deliciously creamy, although a touch sweet, Connoisseur is a solid performer.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: Bitter espresso chocolate cake.

Score: 3.5/5

Price: 1 litre, $8

You’d reckon these sixth-generation ice-cream makers would make a good tub, and – spoiler alert – Bulla has nailed it. Murray Street, minimally flecked with real vanilla bean, caused zero dissension from the panel and was creamy, with good body, and a luxe richness from its caramelised sugar.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Hard

Eat with: Fruit crumble, it’s got the body to complement a heavy-ish dessert.

Score: 4/5

Price: 457ml, $13.50

It’s expensive to ship ice-cream around the world and in 2023, amid outrage from diehard Haagen-heads, the company reduced its tub size and slightly lowered its cream content. At second-most expensive, Haagen-Dazs is smooth, creamy and strong on flavour. If price is no issue, HD delivers.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: A spoon, straight from the container, preferably in bed.

Score: 4/5

Price: 1 litre, $6.50

Like, wow. Tasty, creamy, an inviting colour with flecks of vanilla bean, and base notes from caramelised sugar. This can’t be Coles, right? At $6.50 for one litre, this tub is an absolute bargain, its “Irresistible” branding mostly accurate, with many tasters returning for extra scoops. A solid all-rounder.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: Anything you like: this easy pleaser happily obliges.

Score: 4/5

Price: 1 litre, $8

This is a beloved New Zealand brand – you could say Kapiti is the “Magnum” of NZ – with flavour profiles that go next level, such as Central Otago Black Doris Plum ice-cream. Kapiti’s Vanilla Bean has a high cream content at 39 per cent, lush texture, and a good thwack of real-deal vanilla bean, at 0.05 per cent. Originally a dairy for making cheese, Kapiti’s owners expanded into ice-creams when there was a surplus of milk.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: Two sweet biscuits on either side to make a crunchy ice-cream sandwich.

Score: 4/5

Price: 475ml, $14.50

Messina’s gelato was highly divisive. For some, “Frickin’ delicious!” For others, “too powdery”. Made from Jersey milk and free-range eggs, it’s a rich, creamy, almost cheesy taste, with Heilala Tahitian vanilla from Tonga. High-profile branding helps bump up the price, making it the most expensive in this list, with the fewest millilitres. Of note: When we were allowed to roam loose in the freezer, Messina was the first to go.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: Waffles at your next brunch party.

Score: 4/5

Price: 1 litre, $10

A major dairy in NSW, Norco makes its Ultimate Vanilla with milk and cream from local farms and 0.03 per cent Madagascan vanilla. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel with flecks throughout. Great texture and not too sweet.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: Hot syrup dumplings.

Score: 4/5

Price: 475ml, $10

One of the most divisive ice-creams tasted, comments swung from “too cheesy” to “my favourite”. On the vanilla spectrum, Elato’s arrow swings heavily to the hardcore with a triple dose: textural ground vanilla pods, Madagascan vanilla bean, and vanilla bean essence. Because of that, its colour is beige, its taste is rich and tangy – a sophisticated ice-cream for adult palates.

Real vanilla bean: Yes

Scoop factor: Medium

Eat with: A crunchy waffle cone, so the triple-punch of vanilla stars.

Score: 4.5/5