Fun Ice Cream Facts

Are you an ice cream addict? Then you will enjoy this page with fun facts about ice cream. Here you will find a bit on the history of ice cream - where it all started - some fun facts and ice cream around the world. Then if you are feeling adventurous you can try out some of the more unusual recipes in ice cream flavors.

Image Credit freedigitalphotos.net

Ice Cream isn't new - in ancient times bowls of crushed snow were covered in honey or fruit and served as dessert. The Turks were particular found of creating exotic dishes with imaginative ingredients. We hear stories of frozen desserts from ancient civilizations like China, Rome and the Arab world centuries before it became popularized.

Who exactly started using milk to make a frozen dessert isn't exactly known, some think it was in Persia some in China. Marco Polo is certainly thought to have brought back the idea to Italy from China in the 13th century.

By the 1600s forms of ice cream were fairly widespread throughout Europe although it was a dessert only the rich could afford and was often served to show off a family's wealth and prestige.

Once the concept landed on American shores - well it was only a matter of time before they made it their own and today America is the largest producer and the biggest consumer of ice cream in the world.

Are you crazy about ice cream >>> well here is a book with hundreds of recipes to fill your summer days with delicious flavors. The Ultimate Ice Cream Book by Bruce Weinstein is packed full with more ice cream and frozen drinks and desserts than you will ever need - some flavors and toppings you would never ever think of...

Did you know...

1. Ice cream is made using milk, cream and sugar. Of course there are many extras we use today.
2. You can make ice cream with low fat or skimmed milk but it has to have at least 10% milk fat before you can call it ice cream - anything less is more properly called sorbet.
3. There is more ice cream sold on a Sunday than any other day of the week.
4. July is national ice cream month in America.
5. In America the ice cream industry raises over 20 billion dollars every year.
6. The ice cream cone was first used and patented in Italy then popularized during the World Fair in St Louis in 1904 as a more convenient way to eat ice cream.

Of course it alters when you add flavors and toppings or take out milk fat but for vanilla ice cream - this link gives a wonderful exact breakdown of the nutritional values in ice cream.

Suffice it to say - it is low in sodium, high in fat and high in taste...

Certainly there are if pleasure is included and why should it not be - bringing on a smile can be as therapeutic as a good tonic.

But there is evidence to suggest that it does actually have a health benefit - licking an ice cream cone increases the seratonin or feel-good chemicals in the brain and it has been used to help cope with mild depressive states. Of course today we would probably recommend the low-fat versions.

No it is nothing to do with bread - ice cream sandwiches are ice cream between biscuits or wavers.

In Scotland they are called sliders - or wavers and sometimes they have nougat in the wavers - my personal favorite!

In Australia they call them Giant Sandwiches and they are served wrapped in blue and pink paper.

In New Zealand they are called Vanilla Slices.

In Singapore they are called phia ice cream which translate as biscuit ice cream.

In America they became popular in 1945 and now there are endless varieties including ones with chocolate chip cookies, shortbread or wavers.

Vanilla ice cream is the world's favorite ice cream flavor with chocolate syrup the most popular topping but how about those more unusual flavors? Here are a few recipes for you to try or you might be offered - where you accept is up to you.

1. Candied Bacon Ice Cream
2. Black Sesame Ice Cream
3. Purple Sweet Potato Ice Cream
4. Green Tea Ice Cream
5. Cucumber Ice Cream
6. Honey and Lavender Ice Cream
7. Pomegranate Ice Cream
8. Fennel Ice Cream
9. Chilli, Lime and Lemongrass Ice Cream