Celebrate National Ice Cream Month With These Scoop Worthy Facts
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Every July, ice cream lovers across the United States (US) come together to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. This sweet tradition began in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan officially designated July as a month-long celebration of ice cream. He also declared the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day.
To help you celebrate, here are some fun facts about the frozen treat.
The origin
The emperors of China’s Tang Dynasty are believed to be the first to enjoy an ice cream–like frozen dessert. It was made with milk, flour, and camphor. A more modern version, based on milk and sugar, is credited to Arab chefs in the 9th century.
Europeans developed early versions of ice cream in the 16th century, but it did not arrive in the US until 1744. That year, Maryland Governor Thomas Bladen served strawberry ice cream at a dinner party. It was an instant hit. The dessert quickly became a favorite among the early American leaders. George Washington reportedly once spent about $200 on ice cream in a single summer. This was a very large amount at the time. Thomas Jefferson loved the treat so much, he even wrote a recipe for vanilla ice cream.
However, ice was difficult to store. As a result, the treat remained a luxury for only wealthy families for many years. Ice cream finally became widely available to everyday people in 1851, when the first commercial ice cream factory opened in Pennsylvania.
Americans quickly made up for lost time. Today, the US is one of the world’s top ice cream consumers. The average American eats about 23 pounds (10.4 kg) of the frozen dessert every year. California produces the most ice cream overall. But the biggest ice cream fans per capita live in Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC.
What your favorite ice cream says about you
According to research by neurologist Dr. Alan Hirsch, your favorite ice cream flavor might reveal something about your personality. His study found that people who like vanilla are often adventurous and willing to take risks. Chocolate lovers tend to be outgoing and energetic. Those who prefer strawberry are often thoughtful and loyal. Mint chocolate chip fans are usually ambitious and confident.
A favorite for world records
Ice cream has inspired some amazing world records. One of the most impressive was set on June 28, 2014, at the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival in Wisconsin. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Kemps Dairy created the world's largest single scoop of ice cream.
To make it, workers poured 733 tubs of ice cream into a giant freezer box. Once the ice cream was frozen solid, five professional snow sculptors used ice chisels to carve it into the shape of a giant scoop. It weighed 3,010 pounds (1,365 kg) and stood more than five feet (1.5 m) tall. After the record was confirmed, the ice cream was divided and served to festival attendees.
More recently, on May 18, 2023, an ice cream parlor in Japan set the record for the world's most expensive ice cream. A single serving of the gelato, named Byakuya, cost a staggering $6,696. It featured rare white truffles from Italy, edible gold leaf, and natural Japanese cheeses.
Resources: Wikipedia.org, benjerry.com, starpacnet.com, monticello.org, preservationmaryland.org
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13 Comments
gimkitlover4 dayssoo cool!
ilovehenrydsaf15 daysI love ice cream! first to comment!
