There’s something to be said for ice cream’s place in the American culinary lexicon. Of course, there is no temperature requirement to enjoy our favorite frozen treats, but the thought of ice cream does signal summertime and stir thoughts of refuge from the sweltering Alabama heat.

Here in Birmingham, ice cream shops aren’t nearly as plentiful as burger and barbecue joints. In fact, a few studies (for what they’re worth) placed Alabama near the bottom of the map for the country’s ice cream consumers. While that may account for the lack of ice cream contenders in the city, we do know Birmingham has some gems worth talking about. So when it came down to putting together a list of the city’s best ice cream shops, we were down to do the legwork. Of course, we had to set a ground rule. To qualify for the list, the shops must have a brick-and-mortar location (Ono Ice is delicious, but it can’t join the ranks this time since it’s a mobile eatery).

So, here goes. I scream! You scream! We all scream for — well, you get the point.

Let’s take a look at AL.com’s picks for best ice cream in Birmingham.

5. CRESTWOOD PHARMACY & SODA FOUNTAIN

5502 Crestwood Blvd Suite A, Birmingham, www.facebook.com/bhamrx

Thinking about ice cream in America may drum up scenes of the soda fountain — ice cream parlors sporting marble bars lined with metal chairs and a soda jerk behind the counter. Their popularity was widely fueled by pharmacists who used their knowledge of chemistry to expand the role of the drugstore. Fountain drinks— beverages with carbonated water, often combined with medicinal extracts and effervesced drugs— were used to cure ailments. So when Taylor Trammell wanted to open his own pharmacy, his vision was a classic soda fountain. The result: Crestwood Pharmacy & Soda Fountain.

The ice cream from Crestwood Pharmacy comes from Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe in Mobile. After some difficulty finding an ice cream vendor for the soda fountain, Trammell decided to google “best ice cream in Alabama.” The search led him to an article on AL.com and after digging through comments, Trammell saw the name Cammie’s Old Dutch. He called up the shop, spoke to the owner, and the rest was history.

Crestwood Pharmacy has a menu of at least eight ice cream flavors — the current rundown includes pistachio almond, blueberry, cheesecake, salted caramel, and Hurricane — chocolate ice cream with a chocolate core.

Customers can find a selection of drinks in the fridge next to the soda fountain counter including kombucha from Birmingham-based Better and Harvest Roots. If you’re in the mood for an ice cream beverage, pick one of the drinks to make a float. Crestwood Pharmacy also offers classic soda fountain libations including egg creams, phosphate sodas, and Lime Rickeys.

Order this: Try a twist on a classic ice cream float — a kombucha float with Better kombucha or Harvest Roots kombucha. Pair the kombucha with vanilla or fruit-flavored ice cream.

4. LA SABROSITA ICE CREAM SHOP

3702 Lorna Rd, Hoover, orderlasabrositaicecreamshop.com

There’s something truly delectable about the mangonada, the Mexican frozen treat made with a combination of frozen and juicy ripe mangoes, chamoy, and Tajín.

It’s one of the specialties at La Sabrosita Ice Cream Shop in Hoover. Husband and wife team Victor Olivas and Maria Soto opened the shop in River Oaks Village Shopping Center nearly a decade ago. La Sabrosita, which means “Little Tasty” in Spanish, pays homage to Mexican ice cream shops and sports a massive selection of frozen treats. First, there’s the ice cream. Flavors include mango, coconut, chocolate, and vanilla. You can outfit your order with an assortment of toppings from coconut flakes and chocolate candies to nuts and gummies. If you put in a special request can put in a special request for fresh fruit toppings, such as strawberries or pieces of mango.

Then, there’s the menu of paletas– ice pops made with fruits and sugar and a selection of shaved ice or nieves, including chocolate, limon (lemon) and fruta seca (dried fruit).

If you’re not in the mood for a frozen treat but still have the taste for something sweet, La Sabrosita offers 10 flavors of bubble tea, (including passion fruit, mango, and guanabana), freshly squeezed juices, agua fresca, and tornados— fruit cups filled to the brim with pineapple, mango, jicama, orange, chamoy and Tajín.

Order this: Take your mangonada up a notch with a scoop of coconut ice cream.

3. LA NUEVA MICHOACANA

104 Green Springs Hwy, Suite 110, Birmingham https://www.facebook.com/LaNuevaMichoacanaBhm

There are several stories about the origin of paletas. For instance, the blog Amigo Foods lists two narratives about the birth of Mexican ice pops, including one that dates back to legend: Servants of Aztec emperors would mix ice with fruit and to make a delicacy for the rulers. The site Nuestro Stories lists an origin story that dates the Mexican treat back to the 30s and 40s when Rafael Malfavon, a native of Michoacan, opened the first paleteria, or paleta shop, after encountering popsicles during a visit to the United States.

One name that is synonymous with the growth of paletas is La Michoacana. While the origins of the Mexican specialty shops are complicated, the term is often used to refer to family-owned paleterias.

On Green Springs Highway in Homewood, La Nueva Michoacana, the ice cream shop and paleteria helmed by Juan Sanchez, boasts a massive menu. A gigantic freezer in the colorful shop houses more than 20 flavors of frozen treats, but the masterpieces are the paletas, from the paletas de crema — milk-based pops including fresca con crema (strawberries with cream), and rompope (rum raisin) — and the paletas de agua, water-based pops including tamarind, and mango con chile.

Order this: Yogurt paleta with kiwi, strawberry, peach, and oats.

2. BENDY’S COOKIE’S & CREAM

Cahaba Heights: 3029 Pump House Road, Suite 109 Vestavia Hills, AL 35243

Trussville: 220 Main Street, Suite 100, Trussville, www.eatbendys.com

We love ice cream, but what about its companions cake, bananas, cookies and brownies? If cookies are your choice, Bendy’s Cookies & Cream is the place for you.

Walk into the parlor and you’ll see two chalkboards: One for ice cream flavors, the other for cookies of the day. Bendy’s has a rotating menu. The current summer ice cream lineup includes Strawberry Buttermilk and Ooey Gooey Cake (Bendy’s also has non-dairy and vegan options including Lemon Cream and Thin Mint). Cookie flavors include chocolate chip and white chocolate blueberry. (Note: The best way to keep au courant with the flavors is to visit the Bendy’s website, Instagram, or Facebook page).

An ice cream sandwich — a scoop of ice cream in between two cookies ― will run you about $6.50 before tax. (Feel like making your dessert a little more delectable? Pick two different cookies) Want the full Bendy’s treatment with fewer carbs? Order a scoop of ice cream with a cookie on the side. If you’re looking to take the party home and flex your creative muscle with a do-it-yourself experience, Bendy’s has a freezer of ice cream pints and cookie dough.

ORDER THIS: Ice cream sandwich in celebration of strawberry season: Strawberry Buttermilk ice cream between two oatmeal cookies.

1. BIG SPOON CREAMERY

Avondale: 4000 3rd Ave. South, Birmingham

Homewood: 927 Oxmoor Road, Homewood

Huntsville: 201 Jefferson Street North Suite J, Huntsville

Sometimes life’s most enjoyable moments can be the most fleeting. Take, for example, Big Spoon Creamery. The artisan ice cream shop has a delectable rotating menu of ice cream and ice cream sandwiches, but some of the parlor’s most delicious options are their limited edition creations.

Last year, Big Spoon wowed fans with its rendition of the Choco Taco, posting the goods to its Instagram account just months before Klondike officially confirmed it would discontinue the classic beloved ice cream snack. Was it a The Simpsons-style prediction? We can’t tell, but what we do know is Big Spoon’s creation gave us the chance to collectively drown our nostalgic sorrows and pay tribute to the end of an era (well.. kind of. Klondike later said the Choco Taco may return down the line.) But while the ice cream brand that jilted us plays with our feelings, Big Spoon stepped in to console and entice us with multiple iterations of the Choco Taco, including a Christmas cookie dough rendition and a Valentine’s Day creation with taco-shaped cones dipped in white chocolate, filled with vanilla ice cream and meticulously topped with square chunks of sugar cookie dough, sprinkles, and brown sugar.

Big Spoon Creamery has been a favorite in Birmingham for nearly a decade, and for good reason. First off, Big Spoon smells delicious (think baked goods, sugar, and sweet cream). For those who like to play favorites, it’s best to have at least two preferred ice cream flavors of choice. Big Spoon’s menu is seasonal, so some flavors, such as cereal milk, have a limited time on the menu.

Order this: The Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream with brownie bites.