Bagaméri Dörgicsei Almond Ice Cream from Balatonfüred was named Ice Cream of the Year in 2025

The winner is Sándor Márton (Bagaméri Ice Creamery, Balatonfüred)

This year’s competition was again organized by the Industry Association as a “festival” within the framework of a city event. The competition was hosted by Hajdúszoboszló, the city of the largest spa complex in Europe, where the competitors prepared their competition works in front of the spectators, so that consumers could also learn more about the secrets of ice cream making. The competition took place from morning to early afternoon in a fully equipped ice cream laboratory, on three professional Carpigiani freezers. This was followed by various entertaining, educational and tasting demonstrations related to ice cream, and a professional exhibition also enriched the program.

On the Saturday before Children’s Day, various children’s programs also entertained the visitors throughout the day, courtesy of our host, Hajdúszoboszló and the Máté Kovács City Cultural Center and Library. In addition to the traditional and “Free” competition categories, this year we announced a new category, “Pávai’s Favorite,” in honor of our host, Hajdúszoboszló, and on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Hajdúszoboszló thermal water. One of the favorite cakes of geologist Dr. Ferenc Pávai Vajna, known as the “father of thermal waters,” was apple pie, so ice creams made from apples and apple pie ice creams were eligible for this category.

A record number of 100 ice creams were entered in five categories for the Ice Cream of the Year competition this year, and along with the award-winning Hungarian ice cream masterpieces from previous years, more than 130 types of ice cream were available to taste during the all-day event.