#NationalIceCreamDay is coming! Get the scoop on how ice cream is eaten and celebrated around the world with these 10 fun facts
Everyone loves ice cream, especially on a hot summer’s day, which is why National Ice Cream Day in the US this year is July 17. To mark the occasion, we’ve got 10 interesting facts about the frozen milky treat — from its invention to how it’s eaten across the world today, and even some of the strangest things that have been done to it. Grab your spoon and let’s dig in!
Ice cream was invented in China
You might not have thought that it’sChina we need to thank for gelato — Shutterstock
Many of us might assume that ice cream originated in Italy, due to the reputable richness of proper Italian gelato. In fact, ice cream made specifically with milk, the concept that we know of today, was a Chinese concoction from around 200 CE. It was brought to Europe (via Italy) over 1,000 years later by explorer Marco Polo.
July is National Ice Cream Month
In 1984, in recognition of the American people’s penchant for the dessert, US president Ronald Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month, with National Ice Cream Day to be celebrated on the third Sunday. Interestingly, Sunday is also the day of the week on which people consume the most ice cream, which by some extension, is believed to be the etymology of the word ‘sundae’.
New Zealand consumes the most ice cream per capita
New Zealand is known for its high-quality dairy products — Shutterstock
It bats back and forth between a few nations from year to year, but in 2022, the title for the most avid ice cream eaters in the world goes to the people of New Zealand. The average Kiwi consumes 28.4 liters of the stuff in a year, which is a testament to the high quality of dairy products for which the country is renowned.
Other countries of ice cream lovers include the US, where an impressive 20.8 liters are eaten per capita; and Australia, where each person puts away 18 liters.
Iran makes noodle ice cream
Faloodeh is a unique Iranian dessert with its origins way back in the Persian Empire, consisting of starch vermicelli noodles semi-frozen in a mixture of rose water and syrup. It sounds pretty Middle Eastern — the flavor combination not being too far off that of baklava and Turkish delight — and to top it off, this sorbet-like treat is garnished with lime juice, saffron, or naturally, chopped nuts.
It takes a weighty 12 pounds of milk to make one gallon of ice cream
(Or, if you’re imperial-illiterate, 5.4 kilograms to make 4.5 liters.) Not a particularly worldly fact, but just for fun, consider this…
A single cow can produce 64 pounds of milk in one day. This means that, if you had just one cow, you could open up a small ice cream shop and sell up to 5.3 gallons of goodness each day.
Nature’s own ice cream exists in South America
The “ice cream beans” of the pacay tree — Shutterstock
In the Andean valleys of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela grows the pacay tree, and its fruit tastes exactly like vanilla ice cream. The pod-like growths are filled with dark-colored beans and a sweet, cottony white pulp which is packed with nutrients. There’s even an alcoholic drink made from it called cachiri, which tastes somewhat similar to cider.
A Norwegian company made the biggest ice cream cone ever
They love their ice cream in Norway, and in 2015, ice cream company Hennig-Olsen set a new record for the biggest ice cream cone. The 110-kilogram cone topped with 1,080 liters of ice cream was three meters and eight centimeters in height, and could have provided 10,800 two-scoop servings. What flavor was it? Vanilla with strawberry and chocolate toppings, which seems — let’s be honest — inconsistently ordinary.
Coconut milk ice cream is traditional in Indonesia
Es puter topped with jackfruit and noodle jelly — Shutterstock
Known as es puter, historically, Indonesian coconut milk ice cream came about due to coconuts being more easily available than cow’s milk. It’s completely vegan by coincidence, denser and rougher in texture compared to dairy ice cream, and typically topped with local fruit such as durian, avocado or jackfruit. Don’t forget to try it when you make it to Bali!
Vanilla ice cream is, statistically, the most Instagrammable
It’s unsurprising that classic vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor around the world, and it probably will be forever. But last year, some indulgent research found that despite its plain appearance, it even goes so far as being the most Instagrammed flavor. Hashtags containing the words ‘vanilla ice cream’ totaled 439,108 at the time of the research.
Bright green matcha (that’s more like it) came in second with 315,714 hashtags, only just overtaking chocolate with 301,979.
You’ll find some of the weirdest ice cream flavors in Japan
While vanilla is universally inoffensive, the Namjatown indoor amusem*nt park in Tokyo features a joint called Ice Cream City, where you can sample some bizarre and some downright stomach-churning flavors of ice cream. Don’t be fooled by the adorable presentation — wrap your taste buds around basil, eggplant, oyster, eel, beef tongue, or even “coal” and “Indian curry” ice cream. In all fairness, this is exactly the kind of thing you’d expect in Japan, the place of the possible.
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Greetings, aficionados of frozen delights! As a seasoned expert in the realm of ice cream, I'm here to unravel the intriguing tapestry of frozen indulgence presented in the article on #NationalIceCreamDay. My extensive knowledge stems from a passion for exploring global culinary traditions, a penchant for historical gastronomy, and a deep understanding of the science behind everyone's favorite frozen treat.
Now, let's delve into the delectable facts highlighted in the article:
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Chinese Origins of Ice Cream:
- The article correctly asserts that ice cream, particularly the version made with milk, originated in China around 200 CE. This precursor to modern ice cream found its way to Europe through the travels of Marco Polo, debunking the assumption that Italian gelato was the pioneer.
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National Ice Cream Month in the US:
- President Ronald Reagan's declaration of July as National Ice Cream Month in 1984 showcases the United States' profound love for this frozen delight. The interesting tidbit about National Ice Cream Day falling on the third Sunday, possibly influencing the term 'sundae,' adds a delightful layer to the celebration.
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New Zealand: The Ice Cream Connoisseurs:
- New Zealand's claim to fame as the top consumer of ice cream per capita in 2022, outshining the US and Australia, speaks to the Kiwis' undeniable love for this frozen treat.
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Iranian Noodle Ice Cream (Faloodeh):
- The article introduces the unique Iranian dessert, Faloodeh, a frozen concoction of starch vermicelli noodles in a rose water and syrup mixture. This Middle Eastern delight, garnished with lime juice, saffron, and nuts, showcases the diverse ways ice cream is enjoyed globally.
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Milk-to-Ice Cream Conversion:
- The staggering statistic that it takes 12 pounds of milk to produce one gallon of ice cream sheds light on the resource-intensive nature of this beloved dessert. The whimsical notion that a single cow could supply a small ice cream shop with over five gallons daily adds a touch of dairy-inspired amusem*nt.
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Natural Ice Cream in South America:
- The revelation of the pacay tree in the Andean valleys, whose fruit tastes remarkably like vanilla ice cream, underscores nature's own contribution to the world of frozen treats, providing a unique South American twist.
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Norwegian Record for the Largest Ice Cream Cone:
- Norway's fervor for ice cream is exemplified by Hennig-Olsen's achievement in 2015: creating the world's largest ice cream cone, weighing 110 kilograms and featuring 1,080 liters of ice cream.
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Indonesian Coconut Milk Ice Cream (Es Puter):
- The historical evolution of Indonesian coconut milk ice cream, known as es puter, reflects the region's ingenuity in using available resources. Its vegan nature and distinctive texture make it a delightful divergence from traditional dairy-based ice creams.
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Most Instagrammable Ice Cream Flavors:
- Statistics reveal that, despite its simplicity, vanilla reigns as the most Instagrammed ice cream flavor, surpassing even trendier options like matcha and chocolate.
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Japan's Quirky Ice Cream Flavors:
- The article concludes with a whimsical exploration of Japan's eccentric ice cream flavors, including basil, eggplant, oyster, eel, beef tongue, and even "coal" and "Indian curry" ice cream. This highlights Japan's penchant for culinary experimentation.
In essence, the world of ice cream is a global tapestry woven with historical, cultural, and culinary threads, making it a universally cherished delight. So, as National Ice Cream Day approaches, let's savor the diverse flavors that make this frozen treat a truly international sensation.
