Where does ice cream come from? Facts you need to know
Whether it’s soft serve, ice lollies or those popular ice cream scoops – no one can say no to chocolate, strawberry or stracciatella ice cream, and everyone happily laps it up. But where does the ice cream actually come from? We have collected some astonishing and interesting facts about ice cream that you are sure to want to savour.
The key points
- Ice cream originated in ancient China. The Romans added honey and fruit to frozen snow.
- The first ice cream maker was invented in 1843 by Nancy Johnson. Industrial ice cream production began in the USA in 1851.
- The ice lolly was patented in the USA in 1923.
- German ‘Eisdielen’ (ice cream parlours) owe their name to the ‘Dielenbretten’ (wooden boards) used help customers reach the sales counter.
- Modern freezers are ideal for storing ice cream, both in ice cream parlours and at home.
Where does ice cream come from? The origin of ice cream in China
Many people ask themselves: where does ice cream actually come from? Did you know that the first ice cream was probably made in ancient China? The rulers of China ordered the construction of large ice storage facilities. During the Roman Empire, the emperors ate snow and ice from the Apennines mixed with fruit, honey or rose water.
In 1843, Nancy Johnson invented the ice cream maker. It was operated using a hand crank and made the production of ice cream much easier. The first factory for industrially produced ice cream was founded on 15 June 1851 in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, by dairyman Jacob Fussell.
The origin of the ice cream cone is unknown. However, the Museum of Modern Art in New York has an ice cream cone by Italo Marchioni from 1896 in its collection. The first known patent for an appliance that mechanically shaped waffles into conical shapes was obtained by Antonio Valvona in Manchester in 1902.
In 1923, the first ice lolly was patented in the USA. The lemonade manufacturer Frank Epperson is regarded as its inventor, who, according to his own account, invented it completely by chance. In 1905, he accidentally left a glass of lemonade with a spoon in it outside. The lemonade froze overnight to form an ice lolly.
Soft serve boomed in the 1970s and 1980s. However, soft serve was initially problematic for hygienic reasons. Many people suffered from infections after eating it because it was made with raw eggs. Today, soft serve no longer contains eggs, and professional soft serve machines pasteurise the soft serve mix.
Where does the ice cream in the ice cream parlour come from?
The designation ‘Eisdiele’ (ice cream parlour) has a very pragmatic reason: initially, many of the Italian merchants who immigrated in the 19th century sold their ice cream from a cart or from the windows of their homes. To make it easier for customers to reach the sales counter, the vendors laid ‘Dielenbretter’ (wooden boards) for them to stand on. The ‘Eisdiele’ was born.
Incidentally, most Italian ice cream makers in Germany come from a valley in the Dolomites called Val di Zoldo. This is also why many ice cream parlours are often called ‘Dolomiti’.
Ice cream parlours take great care to store their ice cream correctly in order to ensure the highest quality and creamy consistency at all times. Freezers from Liebherr for the frozen food and ice cream industry provide plenty of storage space and flexible interior design options for the ideal organisation of a wide variety of ice cream products.
This can also be achieved at home:freezers with NoFrost technology prevent frost and ice crystals from forming, guaranteeing long-lasting freshness and optimal storage for your ice cream and other food.
Things to know about ice cream: three quick facts!
1. In the USA, vanilla ice cream has its own special day. 23 July is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day there.
2. In comparison with other European countries, Scandinavian countries lead the ice cream rankings with a per capita consumption of more than 12 litres per year. For example: the per capita consumption in Italy is around 5.5 litres.
3. There is a Guinness World Record for an ice cream cone. In 2015, the world’s tallest ice cream cone was created in Norway. It was 3.08 metres high!
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