History of Ice Cream

The first frozen dessert is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome. It was a mixture of snow (brought to Rome from the mountains by slaves) and nectar, fruit pulp and honey. Yet another story credits Marco Polo, the 13th century explorer, who first travelled to China, bringing back with him a dessert of ice and flavours. King Charles 1st of England is also said to have offered a cook a job for life if he could make him ice cream - and keep it a secret.

In the pioneering America, the first ice cream parlour opened in New York City in 1776. Indeed, George Washington is said to have loved ice cream so much, he ran up a bill for $200 in just one summer. Today that would be thousands of dollars.

Then in 1843, a New England housewife, Nancy Johnson, invented the hand cranked ice cream churn. She sold the patent for her invention for $200 - an investment that went on to make millions in the next decade. In America during the Victorian period, drinking soda water was considered impolite in some communities and indeed was banned from sale on Sundays. An enterprising druggist in Evanston, Illinois reportedly concocted a legal Sunday alternative containing ice cream and syrup, but no soda. To show respect for the Sabbath, he later changed the spelling of his treat to 'sundae.'

The first commercial ice cream plant was established in Baltimore in 1851 by Jacob Fussell, followed by the first ice cream cone in 1896. In 1904, the waffle ice cream cone as we know it today was introduced at the St. Louis World's Fair. Apparently, a waffle vendor started rolling his products into cones for the benefit of the adjacent ice cream stand.

Today in Australia, ice cream is a family favourite with various products available in every supermarket, corner store and service station. In the past 10 years we have seen a huge number of 'gourmet' ice creams in tubs appear, together with a whole range of 'adult' ice creams on sticks. Ice cream has never been better to enjoy!