For World Ice Cream Day, it’s the perfect time to delve into the fascinating history of one of the world’s favourite desserts.
Whether you enjoy it in a cone, a cup, or even sandwiched between two cookies, ice cream is a timeless delight that brings smiles to faces of all ages – it even has its own day of celebration with World Ice Cream Day taking place on 21st July!
With countless flavours to choose from, from the classic chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, to more exotic options such as coconut and mango and rose and pistachio, there’s something for everyone. But did you know that ice cream has a history as rich as its flavour and it spans the four corners of the globe, with our frozen friend known as gelato in Italy, kulfi in India, and mochi in Japan?
Ancient origins
The first known ice cream-like treat originated during China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Emperors back then enjoyed frozen milk mixed with flour, camphor, and sometimes buffalo or goat’s milk. They froze these creamy concoctions in metal tubes, storing them in ice pools for a cool, refreshing treat.
As time went on, icy desserts evolved.
During the Medieval era, Arabs enjoyed a precursor to ice cream called sherbet (sharbat in Arabic), a fruity delight flavoured with quince, pomegranate, or cherry. As ‘ice cream’ made its way to Europe, Italian chefs in the 16th century experimented with ingredients such as cream, sugar and fruit, with the resulting creations quickly becoming popular in royal courts and among the wealthy. Italian innovations paved the way for gelato, which soon spread across Europe, inspiring new flavours and creations.
Welcome Stateside
In the 18th century, ice cream crossed the Atlantic to America, where it became a household staple. The first American ice cream shop opened in New York City in 1744, offering classic flavours like strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate. From there, ice cream parlours popped up across the country, each with its own unique flavours and creations.
Variety and delight
Ice cream’s appeal lies in its simplicity and versatility. Made from milk, cream, sugar, and sometimes egg yolks, it’s ability to take on a wide range of flavours and mix-ins has led to many variations, each satisfying different tastes and showcasing the endless possibilities of these basic ingredients. With classics like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry still topping the popularity polls, what new flavours can we expect this year? According to bidfood.co.uk, four exciting flavours are set to hit the shelves in 2024 and they sound delicious!
Cherry Cola Sorbet: A nostalgic nod to your favourite childhood sour sweets, this sorbet is a beautiful deep raspberry colour and tastes just like the sweet you remember.
Marshmallow Mudslide Ice Cream: A delicious chocolate ice cream with fluffy white and pink marshmallows and an Oreo crumb swirl.
Lemon Meringue Ice Cream: Perfect for summer, with ripples of lemon curd and chunks of crunchy meringue.
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream: A classic dessert turned into ice cream form, with a cheesecake flavour, strawberry ripple, and shortbread biscuit crumbs.
Ice Dreams
Ice cream lovers in North Manchester have something to look forward to this summer. Glida, the already popular ice cream and dessert gelato on Bury New Road which opened last year, is now offering private events and parties too. With a focus on authentic quality Italian ice cream and delicious flavours, Glida is changing the face of kosher ice cream!