One of summer’s sweetest treats, ice cream’s origins can be traced back to the second century B.C. Some of the earliest references include ice combined with fruit topics by Roman emperor Nero and ice and milk creations by King Tang of Shang China. Since then, ice cream has evolved into many variations across the world, from the ice cream cone to frozen custard to gelato. These ice cream varieties are usually made from dairy products like milk and cream, and ice cream is also traditionally combined with sugar, fruits and other sweet flavors.
After ice cream was first imported to the United States, many founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served the sweet treat to their dinner and party guests. The first official ice cream parlor in the country was opened in New York City in 1776. The term ‘ice cream’ was first used by those American colonists, a deviation from the phrase ‘iced cream.’
Many ice cream-making methods have changed over time, as technology increased. The use of ice mixed with salt to lower and control the temperature of the ice cream ingredients and the invention of wooden bucket freezers with rotary paddles greatly improved the quality of ice cream manufacturing.
In 1846, Nancy Johnson patented the hand-crank freezer, establishing the basic method of ice cream-making that is still used today. The first large-scale commercial ice cream plant was built in Baltimore, Maryland in 1851 by Jacob Fussell. The ice cream mold and ice cream scooper were first used in February 1897.
The invention of refrigeration allowed ice cream to become nationally distributed. It quickly became an icon of American culture in soda and malt shops in the early 20th century.
Ice cream’s popularity only grew throughout the years. Because of cheaper refrigeration, ice cream stores, types and flavors exploded. Baskin-Robbins, Dairy Queen and Tastee-Freez became leaders in ice cream chain stores.
Thicker, “premium” ice creams became popular in the 1980s with brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs. These brands, among others, still add flavors today, making ice cream an ever-evolving summer treat.
