CBBC Newsround | ICE-CREAM | The origin of ice-cream (2024)

FAQs

CBBC Newsround | ICE-CREAM | The origin of ice-cream? ›

King Tang of Shang, had 94 ice men who helped to make a dish of buffalo milk, flour and camphor. A kind of ice-cream was invented in China about 200 BC when a milk and rice mixture was frozen by packing it into snow.

The origins of ice cream, sorbet and other chilled dairy treats are difficult to pin down—but span back to antiquity. According to popular legend, ice cream was invented by the ancient Chinese, brought to Italy by Marco Polo, to France by Catherine de Medici, and thence to America by Thomas Jefferson.

Ice cream began as a delicacy reserved only for the extremely wealthy – first appearing in the UK in 1671 at a Windsor Castle banquet. But since then, ice cream has become a treat treasured by all.

During China's Tang period, King Tang of Shang kept 94 ice men whose sole job was to lug ice back to the palace from the mountains to make a dish made of heated, fermented milk, flour and camphor.

But it was British confectioner Philip Lenzi who introduced ice cream to America. In 1774, Lenzi put an ad in the New York Gazette announcing that he would make ice cream available to the masses. It didn't it take long to sweep the (soon-to-be) nation.

Booza origins dates back to at least 1500 AD in Greater Syria and is sometimes referred to as the "first ice cream in the world".

Though he didn't invent ice cream—or even introduce it to America— Jefferson is credited with the first-known ice cream recipe recorded by an American. The flavor? Vanilla. But it was Jefferson's enslaved chef, James Hemings, who is thought to have perfected vanilla ice cream.

The Greeks and Romans did have a form of ice cream, but it was not the same as the modern version that we know today.

Back in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, ice-and snow-drinks were served to the rich and wealthy, and what we can loosely call the first ice cream cup was found in Egypt in a tomb from the Second Dynasty in 2700 BC.

The earliest evidence of anything approaching ice cream being made was in China in the Tang period (A.D. 618-907).

What is China's favorite ice cream? ›

According to research, chocolate, fruit, and vanilla are the most popular ice cream flavors in China. This frozen dessert has become increasingly popular since the pandemic.

According to the world-famous explorer Marco Polo, coming back from his years of travels in China in 1254 (and yes, most researchers nowadays believe that he actually did visit China) the Chinese had mastered a process whereby they managed to freeze ice cream by using salt and salpeter (nitre) to lower the freezing ...

The earliest record of ice cream – or at least its closest resemblance – was during the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BC, during the reign of Cyrus the Great in Persia (which is now known as the country of Iran in the Middle East). Back then, sweetened ice was crushed and mixed with flavors, fruits, and various toppings.

Thomas Jefferson: Mac and cheese

Jefferson discovered macaroni during his European travels and is credited with popularizing the food in the US after he brought a machine for making the pasta back from Naples, Italy.

America's oldest ice cream company—established in 1861—Bassetts Ice Cream was the first merchant to sign a lease at the Reading Terminal Market in 1892 and is still owned and operated by the same family today.

While vanilla has reigned supreme as the world's favorite ice cream flavor for many years, a new report from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shows that it may be at risk of losing that position soon. So what other flavors rounded out the list?

At the moment, we simply don't have enough good quality evidence to suggest that ice cream definitely has any health benefits. But a couple of small portions a week – paired with an otherwise healthy diet and exercise regime – is unlikely to do much harm.

Gelato–which translates to “frozen” from Italian–is a frozen treat from Italy which was originally created in the 16th century. Historians are not sure who originally invented it, but the one of the most popular versions of the story is Bernardo Buontalenti, a native of Florence, created a form of the modern gelato.

Black ice cream tastes strongly like coconut. It specifically tastes like coconut ash, however. It is made from a combination of coconut cream, coconut flakes and coconut milk. Do all ice cream flavors start off with vanilla?

"Creamy Creations has two flavors that line up on either side of Blue Bell's Homemade Vanilla: our Homemade Vanilla and 1905 Vanilla (named for the year H-E-B was founded). I suggest that everybody do their own taste test and pick a winner." McClelland's favorite is 1905 Vanilla.

Did Vikings have ice cream? ›

In China and Eastern Asia, the dessert was enhanced with water, buffalo milk and flour. Eventually, they began incorporating sweet juices and sweetened condensed milk. The Vikings put their own twist on things by adding fresh cheese to the mix, which made their version of ice cream more like a yogurt.

Ice cream is complicated. We love it. We didn't invent it in America, but we eat it more than any other nation on earth. We perfected it right here in Philadelphia, and made it available to the masses.

Ice cream has a unique role in our world's history, culture, and cravings. The first accounts of cold desserts date back to the first century, in civilizations including ancient Rome, Mughal India, and Tang Dynasty China.

Carvel has been inventing originals since 1934, after Tom Carvel's ice cream truck famously broke down in the New York summer heat and created The Original Soft Serve™.