Ice Cream around the World
Although the US is known as the birthplace of modern day ice cream, a
frozen threat made with ice, sugar, cream and salt, the first frozen
dessert is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome who concocted a mixture of
snow, nectar, fruit pulp and honey. Another theory is Marco Polo,
brought recipes for water ices, said to be used in Asia for thousands of
years from the Far East.
In 1700, the governor of Maryland served ice cream to his guests, and in
1776, the year of the Declaration of American Independence from Great
Britain, the first American ice cream parlor opened in New York City.
First Lady, Dolly Madison created a sensation when she served ice cream
in the White House in 1812.
In 1851, Jacob Fussell opened the world’s first commercial ice cream
plant in Baltimore. For many years, the only ice cream flavors that were
available were vanilla, and chocolate, followed by strawberry. Since the
early days, however, ice cream flavors have multiplied immensely and
today, countless ice cream flavors are available world wide. As ice
cream grew in popularity around the world, so did the variety of
flavors. In the west, ice cream flavors seem to have remained in the
realm of fruits, nuts and other sweet tastes such as butterscotch or
caramel.
As the frozen treat was introduced to different cultures and traditions
around the world, even more flavors emerged. In Asia, for instance,
green bean ice cream called durian is extremely popular. Other ice cream
flavors thought to be highly unlikely in the west but extremely popular
in the east are red bean ice cream and green tea ice cream. The basic
recipe for these unusual treats is the same as if one were making
traditional ice cream, with the exception of the ingredient that gives
it flavor. Also among ice cream flavors that may be considered out of
the ordinary are chili ice cream made with fresh vanilla beans and chili
powder and avocado green chili ice cream, made with fresh limes,
avocados and jalapeno peppers.
Variations on the basic American ice cream recipe include frozen
custard, an ice cream variation from France and the gelato, an Italian
treat made with fresh fruit or other ingredients such as chocolate,
nuts, or cookies. The non-dairy variety is said to have originated in
southern Italy while the north is known for dairy gelato which is
usually made with whole milk containing three to four per cent
butterfat. Unlike other ice cream, gelato ingredients are not
homogenized, which results in a product that contains less butterfat
than American ice cream and melts faster.
No matter where you are, you will almost always be able to find ice
cream on the menu. The flavors may not be what you are accustomed to,
but fear not. Regardless of whether your taste for ice cream leans
toward the traditional or the daring, the usual or the experimental,
fruit or peppers, there’s an ice cream flavor for every palate.
Other Great Ice-Cream Recipes From:
www.icecreamrecipes.org.uk
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