10 Fascinating Ice Cream Facts from Around the World

Who doesn’t love ice cream? And now even people with allergies or sensitivities can enjoy their favorite cold, creamy treats! Ice cream is a universally beloved treat, perfect for cooling down on a hot summer day. In celebration of National Ice Cream Day in the US on July 21, here are 10 intriguing facts about this frozen delight—from its historical origins to unique varieties found across the globe. Grab a scoop and enjoy!

1. China: The Birthplace of Ice Cream

Contrary to popular belief that Italy is the home of ice cream, the dessert as we know it, made with milk, originated in China around 200 CE. It was later introduced to Europe by Marco Polo over a millennium later.

2. The Largest Ice Cream Cone Was Made in Norway

Norway made history in 2015 when the ice cream company Hennig-Olsen created the world's largest ice cream cone. Weighing 243 pounds and holding 1,080 liters of ice cream, the cone stood over three meters tall and could serve 10,800 two-scoop portions. The flavors were vanilla with strawberry and chocolate toppings.

3. Iran's Unique Noodle Ice Cream

Faloodeh, an ancient Persian dessert, is made from vermicelli noodles, rose water, and syrup, frozen to a semi-solid state. This Middle Eastern treat is often garnished with lime juice, saffron, or chopped nuts, reminiscent of other regional desserts like baklava.

4. The Instagram Favorite: Vanilla Ice Cream

Vanilla ice cream may seem plain, but it’s the most popular flavor globally and the most shared on Instagram. Last year, hashtags for 'vanilla ice cream' reached 439,108, with matcha coming in second at 315,714, followed closely by chocolate with 301,979.

5. Indonesia's Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Es puter, Indonesia's traditional ice cream, is made from coconut milk instead of cow's milk, making it vegan by nature. This denser and coarser ice cream is typically topped with local fruits such as durian, avocado, or jackfruit.

6. Nature's Ice Cream in South America

In the Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, the pacay tree grows a fruit that tastes remarkably like vanilla ice cream. These "ice cream beans" contain sweet, cottony pulp around dark beans, and are also used to make a cider-like alcoholic drink called cachiri.

7. National Ice Cream Month in the USA

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month, with the third Sunday being National Ice Cream Day. Coincidentally, Sunday is the day when people indulge in ice cream the most, possibly inspiring the name ‘sundae’.

8. New Zealand: The Ice Cream Capital

New Zealanders are the world’s top ice cream consumers, with an average of 28.4 liters per person annually. This is a testament to the country’s high-quality dairy products. The US and Australia follow, with 20.8 and 18 liters per capita, respectively.

9. The Heavyweight Ingredient: Milk

It takes 12 pounds of milk to produce just one gallon of ice cream (5.4 kilograms for 4.5 liters). A single cow can produce 64 pounds of milk daily, enough to make approximately 5.3 gallons of ice cream each day.

10. Japan’s Wild Ice Cream Flavors

Japan is known for its adventurous culinary creations, and ice cream is no exception. Tokyo's Namjatown amusement park offers flavors like basil, eggplant, oyster, eel, beef tongue, and even "coal" and "Indian curry" ice cream, providing a taste experience unlike any other.

Ice cream's world-wide reach reveals a fascinating mix of traditions, innovations, and surprising facts that make it more than just a simple dessert. Whether you're enjoying a classic vanilla cone or experimenting with a new flavor, there's always something new to discover about everyone’s davorite treat.

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