This 41-year-old ice cream parlor pushed the envelope beyond chocolate and strawberry long before it was trendy, with exotic flavors that take a cue from Christina’s Spice & Specialty Foods down the block: green tea, lavender, turmeric chili latte, a ginger that’s as strong as taking a bite of the real stuff. But the shop also doesn’t try to get too cute with weird combinations — flavor, strong and bright, is what counts. And, of course, it does the classics equally well.

For a taste of a roadside ice cream stand in the heart of the city, head to the Crescent Ridge stall at Boston Public Market, where the longtime Sharon dairy company serves up its famous family recipes. Don’t miss the award-winning cherry ridge ripple — cherry ice cream with cherry halves and fudge. Best of all, unlike many rural roadside stands, this location is open year round.

Ice cream is a summertime staple, but one taste of the gelato from this tiny shop in West Roxbury might tempt you to make the switch forever. Made in small batches, the richly flavored offerings here are a masterclass in the Italian treat. The constantly rotating menu, which can include flavors such as tiramisu, chocolate hazelnut, and baklava, will keep you on your toes.

Made to order is the name of the game at Far Out Ice Cream, a Brookline-based chain that crafts New Zealand-style ice cream (it’s a thing) from regional ingredients. Select a chocolate or vanilla base – vegan, frozen yogurt, or small-batch ice cream – then take your pick of flash-frozen fruit, including Maine blueberries. Blended together in a machine, the result is a fruit-forward treat with soft-serve consistency.

Tucked in an unassuming strip mall between Porter and Union squares, this shop features small-batch ice cream with some deep local roots: its founders years ago honed their churning skills at Herrell’s, the iconic chain. The ice cream here is dense but smooth with the sweet malted vanilla being a highlight, and while you’re there you can also sample baked goods and pastries from the bakery.

At this popular ice cream shop between Harvard and Porter squares, owners strive to source every possible ingredient — strawberries, rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, and more — from local farms, and you can taste it in exceptional, ripe flavors. Look for Taco Tuesdays (made with ice cream), vegan options, and fresh fruit sorbets — the most appealing lineup of frozen treats.

Summer nights in Dorchester’s Lower Mills neighborhood wouldn’t be complete without the smell of The Ice Creamsmith’s sweet treats wafting in the air. Featuring store-baked cookies, ice cream cakes and pies, and of course delicious scoops and sundaes, it’s no wonder the lines can get long at this nearly 50-year-old neighborhood spot. Locals return for flavors such as banana, which includes banana chunks, and the classic maple walnut.

On top of inventive, rotating dairy flavors — on a recent day, options included chipotle mezcal, olive oil, horchata, and baklava — New City Microcreamery in Central Square is a surprisingly great choice for vegans. Skip the vanilla and opt for dreamy chocolate avocado: It’s silky, chocolaty, and just a touch earthy. Or try the lime avocado, which is refreshing and tart like a sorbet. The cherry on top: The sprinkles are vegan, too.

Responsible for felling many a pandemic diet, this delivery ice cream service is a creamy Mad Libs: Make your own zany creation with dozens of toppings ranging from sugar-cookie bites, to apple pie, to a fluffy hardened armor of whipped cream — a must — or trust shop employees’ expertise.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Toscanini’s is a Cambridge institution. Gus and Mimi Rancatore’s ice cream parlors have been serving rich, creamy scoops of burnt caramel, kulfi, and B3 (brown butter, brown sugar, and brownies) for years. With an ever-changing roster of creative flavors and a deeply Cantabrigian vibe, Toscanini’s has won plentiful accolades and a loyal tribe of regulars.

Taiyaki NYC offers flavors of soft serve ranging from vanilla to yuzu, but it isn’t the ice cream that’s made this spot Instagram-famous. The trendy chain with locations in the Seaport and Harvard Square specializes in cones made of taiyaki, the waffle-like Japanese treat shaped like a fish; here, it comes with ice cream spiraling out of an open mouth.