Who Created Ice Cream?

Ice cream is an icy treat that is loved worldwide. But who is credited for creating such a delightful desert? Unfortunately, the exact birthplace of ice cream has been lost in time. That doesn’t mean, however, that we are unaware of its early stages and adaptation into the creamy, soft treat we love today. The following is ice cream’s evolutionary story.

Icy Roots – It is hard to say exactly what part of the world ice cream came from, because each area had its own concoction of the early icy treat. Regardless, many argue that the very first type of ice cream most likely came from China. King Tang of the Shang Dynasty was recorded to have an ice and milk concoction that became very popular and soon made its way to Europe. Historians agree that, once in Europe, icy desserts began surfacing among the nobles and elites. Alexander the Great enjoyed honey and nectar flavored ice, and Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar had his servants fetch snow from the mountains which he flavored with juice and fruit.

Ice cream in America – Since icy deserts had already grown in popularity among the nobles in Europe, it’s no surprise that the dessert traveled to North America with the early settlers. Records show that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and many other founding fathers and Presidents served an ice cream-like dessert to many of their guests. It was during this time that the colonists first used the term “ice cream” for the frosty dessert – coining the term we use today. Ice cream quickly grew in popularity in America, as it did in Europe, and the first ice cream parlor opened in New York City in 1776.

Ice Cream for Everyone – During the early days of ice cream, the dessert was only available to the wealthy social elites. Ice cream did not become public in America until the 1800s and, even still, did not become widely available until later that century with the development of the ice cream freezer.

It is obvious that ice cream is a popular treat around the world. Whether you prefer gelato, sherbet, soft serve, or snow cones, it is safe to say that the whole world enjoys a nice frozen sugary dessert on a hot summer afternoon. Long live ice cream – the frozen  treat in everyone’s history.