Tag: Flavors

Origins And History Of Ice Cream

If one is curious about the facts concerning the origin of ice cream, the curiosity will have to continue to stand, for no one is one hundred percent certain of its exact origin. The absence of facts leads to theories, and the most prominent ones are quite interesting. The most interesting aspect of the theories of ice cream’s origin, however, are the inconsistencies. Perhaps it was invented by the Roman emperor Nero, perhaps it was discovered by Marco Polo, or perhaps the early Chinese deserve the credit. Facts also give way to unproven theories in terms of its time of invention. It has been theoretically calculated that ice cream had its beginnings around 618-97 A.D., the second century B.C., and the fourth century B.C. The only clear fact about the origin of ice cream is that no one knows the facts.

The history of ice cream throughout the ages is a different story. Ice cream has been enjoyed in most parts of the world; and each part of the world has brought its own special variations to the subject of ice cream. Thomas Jefferson can be credited with introducing ice cream to America. Long being a much-loved dish in England, ice cream’s first place in America was limited to the wealthy, but soon gained a place with the general population as ice cream parlors were established. No longer limited to the upper-class, ice cream soon became a part of life for the American public in general.

The very first commercial ice cream company in the United States began in Baltimore in in 1851. Established by Jacob Fussell, this ice cream plant was a decisive step toward making ice cream accessible to the American public. The invention of the hand-cranked freezer in 1846 marked the beginning of production of the type of ice cream which has continued in its popularity to the present day.

Other well-known ice cream variations also have interesting roots. The ice cream cone, similar to the style we are familiar with today, was first produced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. And the original Eskimo Pie was designed in Iowa in 1920. The history of ice cream in the United States makes clear the point that regardless of its changes and variations throughout the years, the American public’s love for ice cream is one factor which has never changed.

In other parts of the world, ice cream has a number of variations. Some countries’ ice creams bear little resemblance to what we know as ice cream, but are equally enjoyed by their citizens. In some countries the emphasis is less on the dairy products which we generally associate with ice cream, and, instead, on fruits and the frozen nature of the dessert, placing the dish more in the range of sorbets, sherbets, and even snow cones. In India, the origin of ice cream products goes back to the fruit sorbets of the sixteenth century. More closely related to the American version of ice cream is Kulfi, which is frozen milk and sugar with added flavorings such as orange, peanut and apple.

Although ice cream production in the United States began as a delicacy inaccessible to the general population, it soon gained widespread appeal. Ice cream’s availability to the public which began in New York and Philadelphia’s ice cream parlors has, over the course of time, resulted in the approximately five hundred commercial ice cream companies currently in business.

With seven ice cream plants in the United States, Dreyer’s, which is based in City of Commerce, California, is currently the largest selling ice cream manufacturer in America. Ever expanding their line of flavors, Dreyer’s also produces sherbets and fruit bars. The production– and consumption– of ice cream has come a long way since Thomas Jefferson first introduced it to the United States.

Let’s Celebrate With Ice Cream!

People love celebrations, and people love ice cream. What better of a combination than a celebration with ice cream? All it takes is a little imagination and planning to design an event which everyone present will enjoy. Allow yourself to be creative, and the results should be memorable.

In planning a celebration, one of the first factors is to take into consideration the preferences of your guests. You can decide whether you wish to present a variety of ice cream, or one basic creation which will appeal to everybody. While the former is in general much simpler, the latter does not need to be difficult and can generate a very positive effect on your guests. The key is in having an idea about coordinating your treats to your guests’ tastes.

If your celebration consists of sophisticated guests, you may not think that ice cream would be a suitable dish. But as most people do love ice cream, it is the presentation which matters the most and will lead to the best response from your guests. One absolutely delightful ice cream dish which will appeal to both the taste buds and sophistication of your guests is Baked Alaska. Baked Alaska is not nearly as difficult to make as one might think; and the time and effort put into this famous ice cream creation will be well worth the effort. Hidden under the savory meringue can be any flavors of ice cream that you and your guests desire. This traditional ice cream dish will certainly be the focus of admiration at your next dinner party.

For celebrations of a more casual nature, many people like ice cream pies. Ice cream pie is easy and quick to make, requiring very little preparation. Most styles of ice cream pie can be made by simply placing the ice cream in a pie shell, topping it with your favorite prepared pudding mixture, and adding whipped cream. Of course there are more detailed recipes, but this is by far the easiest and quickest to prepare.

For special events, most ice cream shops sell ice cream cakes which can be custom-decorated to your specifications. These cakes are always well-received at celebrations such as birthday parties. Dairy Queen, Carvel, and Baskin-Robbins are at the top of the list of ice cream shops which make these delightful cakes. Many grocery stores also sell smaller, ready-made ice cream cakes.

When celebrations include small children, for them to gain the most enjoyment from the occasion it should be taken into consideration that their preferences are quite varied. Some children naturally prefer simplicity, and will get more enjoyment from ice cream products which fall into the category of quick and easy and portable. These are the youngsters who would most like hand-held ice cream products such as ice cream bars, ice cream sandwiches, fruit bars and popsicles. Other children are drawn toward anything which is creative. These are the children who would most like ice cream treats that contain all sorts of extras that are colorful and tasty. They tend to like their ice cream with anything from chocolate coating shells to jellybeans mixed in.

When planning a celebration around ice cream, don’t forget that many people enjoy being a part of the process. While it is an individual preference, you will even find senior citizens who get as much enjoyment from making their own ice cream as little children do. In making the celebration a success it is a good idea to know in advance whether your guests will want to participate in ice cream making. If you choose this activity for your next special event, be sure to have enough ingredients on hand, and allow time for preparation and clean-up!

Ice Cream For Children

When eaten in moderation, ice cream is a very healthy food for children. Most children, however, would not be impressed by hearing about the health benefits, calorie content, or ingredients of ice cream, so it is up to the adults to present this food in manners which will interest them the most. This is not to say that many children need much encouragement to eat ice cream, for it is generally a favored treat without requiring any explanations!

First, and above all, children will automatically be drawn to ice cream simply because it tastes good. As a treat which has withstood the test of time, being popular to children of every generation, today’s youngsters have many more varieties and forms of ice cream to enjoy than children did in generations of the past. With ice cream, a child can select his favorites from such forms as ice cream sandwiches, ice cream bars, sundaes, cones, and the ever-popular scoops. All of these forms fit nicely into a child’s active lifestyle, as they are easily portable. Children who might dislike taking the time to sit at the table to eat a snack appreciate being able to take a hand-held ice cream bar or ice cream sandwich along to wherever they are going.

Children also like the fact that there are so many flavors of ice cream to choose from. Although it is a rare child who does not have one particular favorite, the elements of variety and of choice have an important appeal to most youngsters. While he may love chocolate, and, likewise, choose chocolate ninety-nine percent of the time, having thirty other flavors from which he can choose if he so desires is a factor which children like. Having choices is something which all children appreciate; and ice cream certainly fits that category!

Anything which is presented as a learning experience, when presented in an interesting manner, is something which most children enjoy. Considering the fact that ice cream has been a popular part of American life for more than two hundred years, there is plenty of information that children will like to learn about. As each youngster has his own particular field of interest, you have the opportunity to present the subject in the range which most interests your child. For example, one child will be greatly interested in hearing that Dolly Madison served ice cream at the President’s inauguration dinner; another child would like to hear about what types of ice cream his favorite celebrities prefer; and other children will be more interested in learning the details of how, when, and where ice cream was originally invented.

Most children love that which is familiar, and also that which is unique. With ice cream, they can have the best of both. Ice cream can be a source of delight at their special occasions, and can also be presented in ways which make for good, lasting memories. While ice cream on or with cake has been a standard at birthday parties and other family gatherings for generations, there are ways to make it even more enjoyable for the children. In addition to birthday parties and other expected events, you can host a “getting out of school for the summer” celebration, or a party for a specific holiday, and make ice cream a focused part of the festivities by assisting the children in making their own.

Whether you use a hand-cranked ice cream maker, or make the ice cream in plastic bags, children will greatly enjoy this experience which is not time-consuming, complicated or messy as one might think. Youngsters will love the unique taste of homemade ice cream, as it is decidedly different from the boxed type found in grocery stores, and they will enjoy being an active part of its production.

Although ice cream is a healthy part of a child’s diet, most youngsters prefer to eat it simply because it tastes good and it can be given to them in ways which will even increase their enjoyment!

Ice Cream And Its Wworldwide Popularity

While ice cream is generally considered to be as American as baseball, hotdogs and apple pie, Americans have no monopoly on the love for this famous dessert. People worldwide share an affinity for ice cream in its many forms and varieties.

In Italy, ice cream is a very popular dessert. The Italian style of ice cream, which is called gelato, is now being sold in some parts of the United States. There are a number of differences between Italian gelato and American ice cream. Contrary to common misconception, gelato does not contain any gelatin. Gelato contains much less fat than the American styles of ice cream, and its consistency is not as hard-frozen as its American ice cream counterparts. Gelato is usually made of fresh, all-natural ingredients. Produced in many of the same flavors as ice cream, nuts or chocolate chips are occasionally added. It is not surprising that this “new ice cream” has made its way to the United States, and is growing in popularity.

After the United States, New Zealand tops in the world’s ice cream consumption, at twenty litres per year. The New Zealand Ice Cream Company states that their Calci-Lite dairy dessert was likely the world’s first low-fat, calcium-fortified ice cream. Not wishing to sacrifice taste, this ice cream is made in seven flavors, including Saucey Chocolate Orange, Chocolate Malted, and Honeyed Vanilla. As an interesting fact, showing that ice cream truly is a universal favorite, two of New Zealand’s Tip Top Ice Cream Company’s most popular products are Rocky Road ice cream and Eskimo Pies!

Australia is the world’s third largest consumer of ice cream. Although some Australians like to make their own ice cream, the commercially-made types which most enjoy as a basic part of their diet are standard ice cream, soft serve, and Italian gelato!

Ice cream is also a favored treat amongst people in Japan. While the Japanese enjoy the same ice cream flavors that are most popular worldwide, such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, they also have a number of varieties which are quite unique! Of Japan’s unique list of ice cream flavors, such as Cactus ice cream, Chicken Wing ice cream, and Wasabi ice cream, there is one which has recently begun to attain acceptance in the United States Green Tea ice cream. Green Tea ice cream is not difficult to make, consisting of green tea powder, milk, egg yolks, sugar, and heavy cream.

The French love ice cream, too, and have many ice cream shops which specialize not only in ice cream but also soft serve and gelato. Chez Scoop, which is deemed to be one of the best shops in Paris, offers tourists and local customers the same universally-loved flavors of ice cream, such as vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Other styles of ice cream which are popular in Paris are the Grasshopper (vanilla ice cream with mint) and the Tortoise (vanilla ice cream with chocolate, caramel, and pecans). The French are also partial to ice cream which is topped with Vermont maple syrup!

Ice cream is so popular in the United Kingdom that the Ice Cream Alliance has existed since 1944. While mainly directed toward producers and sellers of ice cream, the Alliance also holds annual ice cream competitions. Although the United Kingdom consumes considerably less ice cream than the United States, they presently have more than a thousand ice cream companies. The British enjoy many of the same flavors as Americans, but have some which are likely unique to their region, such as Black Pudding ice cream and Newcastle Brown Ale ice cream.

Ice Cream, the Great American Dessert

Ice cream, America’s favorite treat, has been around for a very long time. It may be America’s favorite treat, but ice cream did not originate in the United States. Ice cream has evolved throughout a history that goes back over 2000 years to around 200 B.C. In the 1st Century, Nero, the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (A.D. 37 – 68), ordered his slaves to bring ice back to him from the mountains. The ice which was used to make an iced mixture with his favorite fruit toppings mixed in.

Another form of ice cream was made by King Tang of China (A. D. 618-97). He combined ice and milk. From China ice cream was brought to Europe when, in the 1200’s Marco Polo had brought an ice cream sorbet recipe back with him to Europe from the Far East. The recipe called for the ingredients snow and milk.

Ice cream was later imported from Europe to the United States where it was served by Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to their guests. Historians say that George Washington really loved his ice cream and ate large amounts of it.

In New York City, in 1776, the first ice cream parlor was opened. The word ice cream was started by the American Colonists. They first called it “iced” cream and it was later shortened to “ice” cream.

When First Lady Dolly Madison was in the white house from 1809 to 1817, she served ice cream to guests.

The hand crank ice cream maker or freezer was invented in 1846 by Nancy Johnson. Today, ice cream is still made using the basic method of the hand-crank ice cream freezer. In 1848 a similar ice cream freezer, the Johnson Patent Ice-Cream Freezer was patented. By 1850 ice cream had become a popular treat. It wasn’t until 1851 that Jacob Fussell’s Baltimore Company began to manufacture and market ice cream commercially.

The ice cream cone was invented in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904 when on July 23 Charles E. Minches thought of making a pastry cone and filled it with two ice cream scoops. The ice cream cone first appeared at the St. Louis World’s Fair later in the year where, historians believe, there were more than 50 ice cream cone vendors. Historians also believe that the ice cream cone had actually been invented by many people, all at around the same time.

In 1926 Clarence Vogt came up with a process of continuously freezing ice cream for the commercial manufacturing of ice cream. By the 1930’s ice cream had a huge increase in popularity and many flavors of ice cream and sherbets had become available. By the 20th Century many flavors of ice cream were being sold on a large scale in grocery stores, supermarkets and ice-cream franchises.

Ice cream is so popular that it has its own month of celebration! President Ronald Reagan proclaimed in 1984 that July is National Ice Cream Month, with the third Sunday of every July being National Ice Cream Day. President Reagan declared that over 90 per cent of the population enjoys ice cream and that ice cream is a healthy, nutritious and fun food that should be appropriately celebrated.

Besides the obvious delicious benefits of ice cream, ice cream helps the nation because over $21 billion in sales are generate every year by ice cream. The industry creates thousands of jobs for Americans and keeps the cows busy. Ice cream manufacturing uses around 9 percent of all the milk produced by American Dairy Farmers.