World’s First Michelin-Starred Ice Cream? Taiwan’s Minimal Ice Cream Is Breaking the Mold

A restaurant in Taichung, Taiwan, is making headlines as the first in the world to earn a Michelin star exclusively for its desserts. Minimal, an ice cream parlor with global recognition, was awarded this prestigious distinction in 2024, making it the only ice cream shop to achieve such an honor.

The Michelin Guide spokesperson praised Minimal for its singular focus on ice and ice cream, using locally sourced Taiwanese ingredients to create unique, flavor-packed desserts. The establishment features a two-level setup: a vibrant ice cream shop on the ground floor and an intimate 20-seat restaurant upstairs. Here, patrons can enjoy a tasting menu highlighting seven different ice creams served at varying temperatures—ranging from a mild 32°F to an exhilarating -40°F.

Arvin Wan, the culinary mastermind behind Minimal, explained the concept behind their latest dessert, noting that it was inspired by how ice crystals transform with temperature changes. He emphasized their goal to showcase the diverse and amazing capabilities of ice.

Minimal’s use of ingredients not commonly found in everyday ice cream sets Minimal apart. Flavors include inventive combinations like sugarcane and camellia seed oil, each designed to evoke the joy and nostalgia of childhood. Arvin Wan expressed the hope that their fantastical ice creams would transport adults back to their childhoods, allowing them to rediscover the pure joy of a perfect scoop.