Ice Cream: Who Invented It and When, the Complete History

Ice cream is a delicious and beloved treat, adored by both adults and children. Some prefer ice cream cones and popsicles, while others prefer fruit ices and sorbets. However, both are united by the emotions evoked by this cold treat.

Not every ice cream lover can say where exactly it originated or when. Even fewer know who first invented the recipe for this delicacy or how much it has changed over the years.

First mention

According to one theory, China is considered the birthplace of ice cream. It was there, 3,000 years BC, that the first dishes vaguely resembling a sweet dessert appeared. At that time, ice cream looked like snow mixed with ice and various fruits, such as lemon, orange, and pomegranate.

The recipe for this delicacy was kept a closely guarded secret. The first mentions of it appeared only in the 11th century BC in a collection of ancient songs. This collection also revealed methods for preserving ancient ice cream.

The ancient Greeks cooled wines, juices, and dairy products with snow and ice. To do this, they had to travel to the mountains and glaciers to obtain frozen water. These cooking methods were adopted by the Persians, Romans, and Mughals of India.

Snow and ice were key ingredients in dishes as far back as ancient Rome. A renowned chef of the time shared his experience of preparing chilled drinks in his creation for the first time.

The Roman Emperor Nero ordered that meals at his court always conclude with cold desserts. For this, chefs crushed mountain ice and mixed it with various fruit additives. To preserve snow and ice for as long as possible, the Romans built capacious cellars.

Video - The History of Ice Cream (Briefly)

Although freezing technology is relatively new, ice cream is an ancient dessert. Humanity has been enjoying its variations for thousands of years. If you want a brief history of this sweet treat, check out this video from the channel "Running Valenki." This video covers the basics of ice cream's origins: what it was like before, who created it, and who first invented modern variations of this dessert.

Appearance in Europe and America

The earliest appearance of ice cream in Europe dates back to the early 14th century. According to one version, the famous traveler Marco Polo, while in China, tasted a previously unknown cold dessert. He liked it so much that, upon arriving in his home country, he decided to share the recipe with several chefs. In addition to ice and snow, saltpeter was added. Thus, ice cream came to Italy.

Ice cream, whose recipe is very close to modern ice cream, also originated in Italy. To create a dessert with a smooth consistency, chefs placed a bowl of ingredients in another container filled with ice and salt. The ingredients were churned for several hours to create a soft, smooth milky mass. The salt prevented the ice from melting quickly, thereby simplifying the entire process.

This soft-serve ice cream became popular in France when the young Catherine de Medici, upon marrying the French king, brought her personal chef with her. He first prepared this dessert in France to celebrate her wedding. Since then, ice cream has been frequently served at various banquets and gala dinners.

Catherine and Henry's granddaughter found herself in a similar situation to her grandmother. She married the King of England, and her personal chef decided to share the secrets of making the sweet, cold dessert with others. However, this only happened after the execution of Charles I in the 17th century.

Americans first experienced the taste of ice cream in the 18th century, thanks to English settlers. At that time, ice cream was a fruity, frozen treat served with various soft drinks.

Industrial production

The production of desserts for children and adults in relatively large quantities became possible only after the development of devices that increased the shelf life of ice, as well as after the advent of special machines with mixers and crushers.

In the 19th century, the first manual ice cream maker was patented. A few years after this discovery, ice cream freezers were developed. However, their production didn't begin immediately, as the woman who first invented them was forced to sell the technology to Americans due to a lack of funds. In 1851, an ice cream factory opened in Baltimore. The first batch of this sweet dessert was also produced at the same time.

Ice cream in a waffle cone appeared on the market in the late 19th century. Its name comes from the town of Plombieres-les-Bemes, where it was invented. The recipe for the assorted treat was patented in Italy, and the chocolate ice cream recipe was patented in Austria.

A familiar appearance

Today, there are many different types of ice cream, including:

• ice cream;
• creamy;
• Eskimo;
• chocolate;
• fruit ice and others.

Plombir is an ice cream made from milk, cream, eggs, and sugar. Its main difference from vanilla or cream ice cream is its higher milk fat content (12-20%). This makes it the most delicate and soft, but also the most caloric.

Plombir ice cream is packaged in several ways. It can be found in waffle cones as well as in larger containers. It can be used to make a variety of other desserts, including pistachio ice cream or treats with berries, fruits, jams, condensed milk, or nuts.

Ice cream is made from the same ingredients as plombir (ice cream). The only difference is the use of lower-fat ingredients. Eskimo ice cream is made with vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate icing, while fruit ice is made with fruit and berry juices and purees.

Ice cream in Russia

The first ice cream parlor opened in Paris in 1660 thanks to the efforts of an Italian. However, the delicacy was prepared by hand, making the entire process quite time-consuming. This undoubtedly impacted the dessert's price. Reducing the cost of ice cream and simplifying the entire production process required considerable time.

The first European-style ice cream appeared in Russia in the mid-18th century. It instantly won the hearts of many. It was sold not only to high society but also to the common people. The recipe for this cold treat was first published in a cookbook. It included not only cream and egg whites but also interesting ingredients such as chocolate, lemon, cranberries, currants, cherries, oranges, and raspberries.

Ice cream only began to be sold in large quantities after 1930. This was facilitated by People's Commissar of Domestic Trade Anastas Mikoyan. Thanks to his influence, the first equipment was purchased, recipes were refined, and packaging designs were developed.

The secret of Soviet ice cream wasn't its flashy packaging. Its creamy, rich flavor was so vibrant that it was popular even abroad. The secret was that the dessert was made according to the strictest quality standards. The ice cream was free of preservatives, flavorings, and sweeteners.

Interesting facts

• I use gold spoons for ice cream tasting because gold has no odor or flavor, making it difficult for experts to assess the quality of the treat.
• Chocolate-glazed ice cream is the most caloric of the ice creams. 100 grams of the product, made with toppings and nuts, can contain up to 300 calories. Frozen ice contains the fewest calories, up to 100 kcal per 100 grams.
• Fruit ice was invented completely by accident, thanks to a forgotten glass of juice in the cold. It wasn't until 20 years later that it became commercially available.
• Every three seconds, one ice cream is sold in the world.
• America is the leading country in ice cream consumption.
• Before entering politics, Margaret Thatcher was developing a recipe for soft-serve ice cream.

Today, ice cream is a product that's not only easy to buy at the store but also easy to make at home. However, this dessert has a fascinating, long history. If you know any interesting facts about the creation of this cold treat, please share them in the comments.