It is said that ice cream is the oldest dessert in the world and in many countries it is still the most popular. The history of ice cream dates back to ancient China, when a kind of chilled rice dessert was made there. The first form of ice cream was more like a frozen mixture, which can be linked to today’s sorbets.
Even ancient kings, and later emperors, enjoyed cold desserts. Emperor Nero mixed snow and ice brought from the mountains with honey and fruit — something close to today’s sorbet.
What is it?
- Gelato (from Italian: frozen) – Italian-style ice cream; made from milk and cream.
- Ice cream – American-style, often fattier and creamier.
- Sorbet – frozen dessert made from fruit and water.
- Ice pop – frozen treat on a stick made from fruit juice or milk.
Ice Cream in Europe
The first European who had the chance to try and describe ice cream was Marco Polo. He brought this dessert from his travels to the East. It is believed he tasted something similar to ice cream at the court of the great ruler Kublai Khan.
Ice was delivered from the mountains and mixed with fruit and wine. The method of ice preservation using salt was perfected by the Sicilians, who were among the first to open public ice cream shops.
Ice cream began to be prepared and consumed more widely when it arrived in France in the 17th century, during the reign of King Charles I.
Industrialization of Ice Cream
The industrialization of ice cream began in America in the 19th century. That’s when the first mechanical ice cream machines appeared. Simple to operate and practical to use, they allowed for easy production of ice cream. It wasn’t long before ice cream was being sold in pastry shops. At first, flavors were limited to chocolate and vanilla, but over time, people began experimenting, and then came the explosion of new flavors.
Cone
The modern cone was invented by Italo Marchioni, a pastry chef from Voltri, Italy. He presented his “edible ice cream cup” at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1924.
Ice Cream on a Stick
Ice cream on a stick came a bit later. It was invented by Kris Nelson, a pastry shop owner in Iowa. He came up with the idea when one of his regular customers couldn’t decide between ice cream and a chocolate bar. Nelson made ice cream coated in chocolate, and the idea caught on. Today, this type of ice cream is called “Eskimo” (or simply: ice cream on a stick).
FOUR BASIC TYPES
- MILK ICE CREAMS – contain more than five percent milk fat
- CREAM ICE CREAMS – contain at least eight percent milk fat and are the sweetest
- YOGURT ICE CREAMS – made with added yogurt, often less sweet and served with fruit
- FRUIT ICE CREAMS – prepared from water and fruit, often with lower sugar content and lots of fruit
