Ice cream, that delectable frozen delight adored by people of all ages around the world, has a history as rich and diverse as its flavors. From the bustling streets of China to the luxurious courts of Europe, the origins of ice cream can be traced back through centuries of innovation and culinary experimentation.
Tracking the origins of a culinary delight with a history spanning centuries and a global presence is a challenging endeavor. Its evolution over time, blending of cultures and countless variations, have made it a sweet mystery to unravel. The legends surrounding ice cream are as delightful as the dessert itself. There’s stories of Marco Polo bringing ice cream from China and Catherine de’ Medici introducing it to France, but historical evidence to support these tales is lacking.
1. Ancient origins
The origins of ice cream are known to go back to ancient civilizations, where the concept of combining ice or snow with various sweet ingredients laid the foundation for this frozen delicacy.
Tracing its origins unveils a rich tapestry of culinary innovations dating back to 4000 BC when the scorching Mesopotamian summers urged nobles along the Euphrates River to construct ingenious icehouses. Accounts in the Bible hint at King Solomon’s fondness for refreshing chilled beverages, especially during the abundant harvest seasons.
In ancient Greece, snow served as a chilling agent, not just for wines but also as a street commodity. Alexander the Great reveled in the consumption of chilled beverages infused with hints of honey or wine, adding a touch of luxury to his lifestyle.
The era of Nero, ruling over Rome between 54 to 68 AD, witnessed the procurement of ice from neighboring mountains, carefully stored in subterranean “ice houses” shrouded with insulating straw. This method of preserving ice, as a substitute for contemporary refrigeration, soon became a customary practice. The Emperor is said to have been fond of honey-laced chilled refreshments.
Looking further east, during China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), historical sources document the existence of a concoction made from frozen, camphor-infused water buffalo milk. These ancient precursors laid the foundation for the eventual emergence of the beloved dessert, ice cream, as we know it today.
The breakthrough in ice cream-making techniques came with the discovery that mixing ice with salt initiated an exothermic chemical reaction, lowering the freezing point of the mixture. This method allowed ice crystals to form in various concoctions, resulting in a scoopable frozen foam.
Later, the European aristocracy adopted the icy refreshments. Italians and the French refined these chilled drinks, laying the foundation for future developments.
2. Medieval European adaptations through the centuries
Ice cream finally arrived in Europe during the Middle Ages. Ice cream became a popular dessert in Europe due to a combination of factors, including trade, innovation and the influence of royalty. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Italy was a center of trade with the Middle East and Asia. This contact with new and innovative recipes of ice cream enabled this summertime treat to slowly spread across the entire continent.
Versions of the story credit Marco Polo, who brought back the secrets of ice cream making from his travels to China in the 13th century, others praise Italian noblewoman Catherine de Medici for introducing the frozen dessert to France, similar at the time to sorbet, in the 16th century, when she moved there to marry Duke de Orleans, future King of France.
During the 17th century, the concept of transforming chilled beverages into frozen delights began to take shape. The infusion of sugar into these concoctions gave birth to what we now recognize as sorbet.
Credited with documenting the first-ever sorbetto recipe, Antonio Latini, an individual employed under a Spanish Viceroy in Naples, ventured through culinary innovations that extended beyond sorbetto. Latini is also credited with pioneering a milk-based variation, widely regarded by culinary historians as the precursor to the modern iteration of ice cream.
In 1686, Sicilian Francesco Procopio introduced gelato to the French public at Café Il Procope, earning the moniker “Father of Italian Gelato” and being credited with the first written down recipe of ice cream.
As ice cream made its way into the royal courts of Europe, it gained favor among the crowned heads of the time. In 17th Century England, “Cream Ice”, as it was called, appeared regularly at the table of Charles I.
French experimentation gave rise to “fromage”, a frozen dessert that featured ingredients like cream, sugar and orange flower water, which, despite its name, did not contain any cheese. This treat gained popularity throughout 18th-century France.
3. Colonial America and the birth of the ice cream parlor
Ice cream made its way to the American colonies, with colonists bringing their love for the sweet treat across the Atlantic in the 1700s. By the end of the 18th century, ice cream parlors started appearing in American cities, making this frozen delight more accessible to the general public.
The 19th century brought a significant advancement in ice cream manufacture with the introduction of the ice cream machine in 1843, both in England and America. This innovative device featured a wooden bucket filled with ice and salt, with a handle for rotation. The central metal container, surrounded by the ice and salt mixture, churned the ice cream, resulting in a smoother texture.
As the 20th century rolled in, ice cream continued to evolve. The development of new flavors and toppings led to a wide array of choices that catered to diverse tastes. Innovations such as the ice cream cone, soft-serve ice cream machines, pre-packaged ice cream novelties and dairy-free options expanded the market even further, ensuring that everyone could enjoy this delightful treat.
