Summer is the season of sea, sun and… ice cream. When temperatures are rising, there is no better way to combat them than by eating a delicious scoop of chocolate chip or strawberry ice cream. However, many of us also tend to travel during the summer months, meaning we get to discover new culinary cultures. Below are 5 kinds of ice cream from around the globe.
1. Spaghettieis
Even though spaghettieis has only recently been discovered by social media users, it has been a staple in Germany since the 1960’s. Ice cream shop owner Dario Fontanella from Mannheim wanted to develop a variation of the French mont blanc dessert (made with chestnut puree) and, to do so, he pushed vanilla ice cream through a Spätzle press, resulting in spaghetti-like strands. He then put strawberry sauce and some grated white chocolate on top and ended up with a dessert resembling an Italian plate of pasta with tomato sauce and grated parmesan. Ever since then, you can find it on menus throughout Germany.
2. Ais Kacang
Ais Kacang, also known as ABC, literally means ‘bean ice’ or ‘ice beans’, first emerged around WWI. It can be found in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and combines shaved ice with red beans and sweetcorn. Topped with evaporated milk, fruits, nuts and other colourful additions, it makes for a peculiar yet refreshing dessert when visiting the region.
3. Mochi
Nowadays, mochi variations can be found in supermarkets and restaurants all throughout the world but it was initially invented in China some 2,000 years ago. However, the dessert soon became a staple in Japan, thanks to the emerging rice culture in the country. Mochi’s main trait is its glutinous rice casing, which can either be filled with ice cream or other ingredients such as red bean paste or matcha.
4. Maraş dondurma
We’ve all seen the videos on social media, showing ice cream vendors in Türkiye and its neighbouring countries tricking tourists with their elastic dessert. In order to obtain the texture, the emulsified milk confection is enriched with a starchy flour made from orchid tubers and tree resin. Maraş dondurma comes in all kinds of flavours and, thanks to the fact that the desserts stays icy longer than your usual scoop, it’s perfect for the hot summers around the Mediterranean Sea.
5. Kulfi
Since its invention in the 16th century, kulfi has been an integral part of Indian and Pakistani cuisine. The slowly simmered and then frozen sweetened milk is flavoured with ingredients such as pistachios and rosewater and is traditionally served in a cone shape on a stick.
