Ice cream is one of the most popular treats on a sunny day, but what are the origins of this delicious snack? The history of ice cream stretches back further than you might think, adapting to the tastes of different times and civilisations.
Not-so-humble beginnings
Ice cream was enjoyed by elites since the Hellenistic period. A form of ice cream, very different from our modern equivalent, was invented when a milk and rice mixture was frozen by packing it into snow. In fact, Alexander the Great enjoyed snow and ice flavoured with honey and nectar, called a ‘faloodeh’. By the time of the Roman emperors, the image of imperial elites sending runners into the mountains for snow, to be flavoured with fruits and juices, emerged.
However, the emergence of ice cream in this early period was not strictly limited to the Mediterranean. King Shang, of the Tang dynasty (ruling from 618-907AD), had 94 men who helped make a dish of buffalo milk, which was thickened with flour and flavoured with camphor before refrigeration; this drink was poured into metal tubes to be lowered into ice pools (the same manner by which Indian kulfi is made). Unfortunately, whilst we have a glamorous image of Marco Polo returning to Italy from the Far East in the 13th century with a sherbet-like recipe – allegedly tasted in the court of Chinese emperor Kuhlai Kahn – historians now believe this story to be false.
Ice Cream Going international
Instead, we have evidence of frozen treats arriving in French courts in 1553 when Catherine de Medici married Henry II of France – presumably with a suitcase full of melted ice cream! By the 17th century, a dish known as ‘cream ice’ was served at the table of Charles I, who supposedly offered his chef £500 a year to keep the recipe a secret from the rest of England. However, this secret was not kept for long, as, by 1660, ice cream was available to the general public.
Back in France, Nicholas Lemery is credited with writing the first sorbet recipe in 1674. This is swiftly followed by the foundation of Café Procope in Paris. The invention of modern gelato is accredited to its chef, Procopio Cuto.
Ice Cream Inventions and Innovations
1718 saw the first recipe for ice cream published in English, when the former confectioner of Queen Anne published her Mrs Mary Eales Receipts. The popularity of ice cream escalated with the industrial revolution, with innovations such as steam power, mechanical refrigeration, electric motors, and packing machines accelerating the production process.
By 1777, the frozen treat had arrived on American shores, with President George Washington allegedly spending $200 on ice cream in the summer of 1790. The president was a huge fan, as inventory records of his home, Mount Vernon, revealed ‘two pewter ice cream pots.’ His predecessor, Jefferson, even had an 18-step recipe for an ice cream dessert similar to baked Alaska.
The USA was also the home of the first ice cream factory, founded by Jacob Fussell in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, in 1851. The fact that large-scale production was needed, and that over 25 million tons of ice was harvested in the US in 1866, is testament to the treat’s popularity.
1874 saw the invention of ice cream soda, but, in response to religious backlash towards people eating the ‘sinfully’ rich treat on Sundays, merchants began to omit the carbonated water and invented the ‘Sunday.’ To remove any connection with the Sabbath, the name was changed to ‘Sundae’ in the late 1890s.
Issues with ice cream in this period were not just of a religious nature. In the UK, people were wary of enjoying ice cream in the late 19th century. The penny-lick, a small glass for serving ice cream, was banned in London after being held responsible for spreading tuberculosis.
Luckily, by the end of WW2, ice cream was in public favour once more as a key part of celebration for the allies. The popularity of the treat skyrocketed throughout the 20th century to become the staple that it is now.
Us
Take Away Supplies offer high quality ice cream packaging, ingredients, and toppings, delivered fast and free across the UK. Please feel free to check out our website for more information on our complete range, and do not hesitate to contact us with any queries you may have.
Sources:
https://www.idfa.org/the-history-of-ice-cream
https://www.dreamscoops.com/history-of-ice-cream/