{"id":287,"date":"2019-04-25T21:32:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T01:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dodocookiedough.com\/?p=287"},"modified":"2019-05-06T02:48:21","modified_gmt":"2019-05-06T06:48:21","slug":"history-of-ice-cream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dodocookiedough.com\/history-of-ice-cream\/","title":{"rendered":"A Brief History of Ice Cream"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the wide variety of ice cream flavors and preparations, it shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise the history of ice cream<\/a> is rich in stories and milestones. As we enjoy our raspberry sorbets and cherry-topped strawberry ice cream milkshakes, let\u2019s look back at the humble and grand beginnings of one of the world\u2019s favorite treats.<\/p>\n

Tracing the History of Ice Cream<\/h2>\n

Persians Started the Craze<\/h3>\n

The earliest record of ice cream \u2013 or at least its closest resemblance \u2013 was during the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BC, during the reign of Cyrus the Great in Persia (which is now known as the country of Iran in the Middle East). Back then, sweetened ice was crushed and mixed with flavors, fruits, and various toppings.<\/p>\n

About 100 years after, Persians started experimenting with pasta and rose-steeped water by chilling the mixture and adding fruits, spices, and flavors. This concoction was the earliest form of Faloodeh, a sorbet-like cold dessert popular in traditional Iranian culture.<\/p>\n

Ice Cream Drips into Neighboring Countries<\/h3>\n

The kingdoms in Greece and Rome soon received word about this unique food technology, and used it in culturally unique ways. The production process to create chilled preparations was costly, but it wasn\u2019t a problem with wealthy Roman royalty.<\/p>\n

China Upgrades the Technology<\/h3>\n

As the ice cream production process reached farther, China got wind of this refreshing dessert. The country\u2019s spin on it was to freeze rice and milk together.<\/p>\n

What China did to advance the ice cream production technology was nothing short of outstanding. They discovered the usefulness of salt (or saltpeter) to ice cream making, specifically to reduce the freezing point to less than zero degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n

Ice Cream Reaches European Territories<\/h3>\n

The cold creation ran silent for centuries after the fall of Rome, but Italy picked up the process. By the fourteenth century, ice cream recipes were becoming rising commodities in trading.<\/p>\n

However, it wasn\u2019t until 1533 \u2013 during the wedding of duchess Catherine de’ Medici of Italy to the Duke of Orl\u00e9ans Henry II of France \u2013 that ice cream was introduced to Europe\u2019s nobility. The duchess brought Italian chefs who shared sorbet recipes to their French counterparts.<\/p>\n

By the eighteenth century, England was able to join in the bandwagon, with the first ice cream recipe published in an English cookbook in 1718.<\/p>\n

Ice Cream Sets Sail To North America<\/h3>\n

By the mid-eighteenth century, the technology reached North American shores, starting off a chain of industrial milestones that cemented the reputation of ice cream as a lasting food commodity.<\/p>\n

As the industrial revolution came, electric freezers addressed the need for continuous refrigeration of mass-produced ice cream products. This resulted to a massive drop in the price of ice cream, allowing the cold dessert to become increasingly popular to the masses.<\/p>\n