Who invented ice cream? The history of ice cream is more complicated than you think.
Ice cream is a classic dessert loved around the globe. What was once a special treat for monarchs and aristocracy, is now a household favorite. Nowadays, the sweet treat comes in many flavors ranging from simple vanilla to matcha to goat cheese – there is sure to be a flavor to satisfy people of all ages.
With so many people inventing new flavors, using dairy alternatives and health-conscious variations of the dessert, ice cream continues to make history.
But who invented ice cream? The history of this beloved frozen dessert is more complicated than you may think. Here’s the scoop:
Who invented ice cream?
No single person can take credit for the invention of ice cream. There are many stories of Marco Polo bringing ice cream to the Western world, however, there is no historical evidence to back this claim. Although there is not one sole inventor of ice cream, most cultures have recorded some early version of a sweet chilled or iced dish.
Thomas Jefferson, when he was a diplomat in Paris, brought back a love for the frozen dessert and served it at the executive mansion several times. Among his many writings from his life, he had only ten recipes: one of them being a recipe for French-style vanilla ice cream with egg yolk. Jefferson wasn't the first person in America to make ice cream but he is credited as the first American to write down an ice cream recipe.
When was ice cream invented?
History Channel reports the earliest account of chilled or frozen dairy dishes dates back to at least 4000 B.C. The most widely recounted period is 618-907 A.D. during the Tang dynasty in China.
Where was ice cream invented?
Much like the original creator and year, there is not a specific place to attribute as the birthplace of ice cream. Explorers would share dishes from their travels and interpret the recipes in ways that best suited their tastes and culture.
Several places around the globe have recorded their early versions of a sweet, frozen dessert. Here are some early variations of ice cream:
China, iced drinks: chilled milk flavored with camphor
India, kulfi: condensed milk frozen into molds
Italy, water ice and milk sorbet: frozen juice with a soft icy consistency
United States, ice cream: heavy cream blended with eggs and frozen to a thick consistency
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When was ice cream invented? The inside scoop on the treat's history.