Discover the Magic of Tillamook Creamery: Ice Cream, Cheese, and Family Fun
During one of our days in Rockaway Beach, we decided we couldn’t miss the chance to tour the famous Tillamook Creamery. But Tim surprised us with something even better, he had booked us a reservation for the Exclusive Ice Cream Experience!
As a dairy-loving family, ice cream is basically our weakness. Most of the time, we even make it ourselves. So getting an inside look at how they produce ice cream by the ton in a factory was fascinating!
Ice Cream Tasting and Taste Bud Tests
The staff dressed us in optional lab coats and set us up for some fun taste tests. We started the tour with an ice cream sandwich because, honestly, why not eat ice cream before the tour even begins?
Next, we took a bitter taste test. Not my favorite, I’ll admit! Apparently, the gene for tasting bitterness is strong in me, Tim, and all our kids; we all turned out to be super-tasters. Did you know only about 25% of people are highly sensitive to bitter flavors, while another 25% don’t taste bitterness at all? That means if you or your kids are picky eaters, it’s not just in your head! It’s scientifically proven! Super-tasters really do struggle with certain foods, and now I feel totally validated. Ha!
The sweetness test came next, where we tasted colored liquids and ranked them by sweetness. This was simple for me — some tasted like water, others like syrup, and a few levels in between. I’m sure the tests were designed to be easier, but it surprised me that not everyone could figure it out. This helped explain why I sometimes find food, desserts, and buffets less enjoyable. My taste buds are extra sensitive. Definitely an unexpected discovery.
A Fun Break with Photo Shoots and Giant Ice Cream Carton Jumps
When we had a little break between testing our taste buds and breaking out the ice cream samples, they had areas set up for photo shoots. The kids thought that was so much fun! They even had a contest to see who could jump onto the giant ice cream carton. The energy and laughter in that moment were priceless.
Ice Cream Samples: The Kids’ Favorite Part
When they brought out the samples of ice cream, it was fascinating to watch them cut the containers in half to show how perfectly the additives are spread. They taught us that additives are added through a different tube than the ice cream itself so they can be distributed evenly. I’ve always wondered how they managed that. Now, if only I could figure out how to do it at home! Ha!
After that, we were rewarded with trays of ice cream samples. This was hands down the kids’ favorite part. They mostly stuck with chocolate flavors but were brave enough to try everything.
I also learned a fun fact: workers get to take home ice cream that doesn’t meet quality standards. Good thing I don’t work at Tillamook. I’d be eating way too much ice cream! The stuff was really delicious.
Family Values and Cheese Galore
One thing that really stood out was how family-oriented Tillamook is. We connected with that immediately! The top floor of the creamery is open for visitors to experience, and you can look into their cheese manufacturing plant. Plus, they give away free cheese samples. What a tasty surprise!
I was amazed to learn they have 40 million pounds of cheese aging and prepping to go to stores. That’s a whole lot of cheesy goodness!
A Tempting Restaurant We’ll Save for Next Time
There was a restaurant right inside the creamery, and it smelled absolutely delicious. But after all the ice cream and cheese samples, we couldn’t eat another bite! Next time, we’ll be sure to skip lunch before visiting because that mac and cheese smelled incredible!
A Museum That Keeps Kids Curious
Sometimes, when we take our kids to museums, they get bored. But not at Tillamook Creamery! It kept our kids curious, fascinated, and excited to see how the products they enjoy every day are made.
The Perfect Souvenir
At the end of the Ice Cream Experience, they gave us exclusive souvenir mugs shaped like ice cream cones filled with little treasures inside. Sami, my little collector of treasures, thought they had given her the moon. Those mugs have already been filled with ice cream at home more than once!
Thank you, Tillamook, for a delicious and educational experience!
Have you visited Tillamook Creamery? What was your family’s favorite part? Let us know in the comments!
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