The History of Ice Cream
The first recorded reference to the term we know as ice cream was made in 1744 by Maryland's Governor William Bladden in a letter he had written. He wrote, "fine ice cream…with…strawberries and milk." (Dickson) This is fitting since Americans are the world's largest consumers of this frozen confection. The history of ice cream can be traced to the Roman Empire, China and India. Ice cram was introduced in England in the 17th century and came to America in the 18th century. The history of ice cream may not be historical that of chocolate, however it was a also a treat that's early beginnings where reserved for nobility.
Mother of American Ice Cream, Nancy Johnson
Nancy Johnson, a Philadelphia housewife was responsible for bringing ice cream into all American homes. Johnson invented the hand cranked ice cream churn. Until her invention, making ice cream was difficult job. To make ice cream one had to combine a mixture of mixing cream, sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla in a tin bowl, then "hand agitate" it with a wooden spoon, constantly scraping the sides for ice. The process took hours and at any time big chucks of ice that would form could ruin a batch. Because of the time and labor involved ice cream was a treat for families that had servants.
Nancy Johnson's invention broke the class barrier that surrounded ice cream. She streamlined the process by putting the mixture in a large tin with a removable lid. She adapted an S-shaped dasher that scraped the sides preventing ice crystals to form. Johnson patented her invention in 1843, however, she lacked the funds to manufacture and market her invention. In 1845 she sold the patent for $200 to the Williams & Company. In 1946 the company listed the item in their catalog and ice cream soon became an accessible to treat to all Americans. At $3 each, Johnson's ice cream churn was inexpensive enough for the middle class to afford. From 1847 to 1877 there were over 70 improvements made on the original churn. All these new "freezers" claimed to make ice cream faster. By 1878 ice cream was being shipped all over the country and was stored in ice cellars for months.
Time Line of the History of Ice Cream
1559 With the discovery that ice and salt can cause freezing, ice cream first appears in Italy.
1744 Maryland's Governor William Bladden writes a friend telling him of this delicious frozen concoction he tasted while abroad in Europe.
1782 Ice cream was first served at a Philadelphia party given by the French envoy in honor of the newly formed country.
1790 According to the records of a New York merchant, President Washington spent about $200 for ice cream that summer. Washington had two pewter pots made for his ice cream enjoyment.
1845 The first hand operated ice cream freezer was invented by Nancy Johnson. This invention allowed Americans to enjoy ice cream in their own homes.
1851 The first wholesale ice cream business was founded by Baltimore milk Jacob Fussell. Fussell is faced with the problem of erratic demand and is Forced to sell his ice cream for half the price of his competitors.
1874 The ice cream soda was invented. The profession became known as a "soda jerk."
1890 Due to religious criticism that this "sinfully" creation should not be served on Sundays, ice cream merchants responded by leaving out the carbonated water in a ice cream soda and thus invented the ice cream "Sunday." The spelling was later change to "sundae" to avoid any connection to holy day.
1904 The ice cream cone was introduced at the St. Louis World's Fair by a Syrian immigrant pastry maker named Ernest A. Hamwi. Hamwi sells his wafer like pastry at the fairground serving them with sugar and other sweets. When the ice cream stand runs out of dishes, Hamwi rolls his pastry into a cone shape and the ice cream cone is born.
1904 Italian immigrant Italo Marchoiny is issued a patent for the ice cream cone mold. Marchiony claims that he had been making ice cream cones since 1896.
1921
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Originally called the "I-Scream-Bar" shop owner Chris Nelson created this wonderful treat. When Douglas Ressenden came into Nelson's store and Asked for a ice cream sandwich, Nelson made him one. But the boy realized that he did not have enough money for the ice cream and a chocolate bar, so he opted for the chocolate. This gave Nelson the idea to combine the two treats and what we now know as the Eskimo Pie was born.
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1924 Americans consume an average of 6.8 pounds of ice cream each per year. Considering that the average intake of cheese was 4.5 pounds, ice cream had established itself in the American diet. In less than 3 years the rate of ice cream consumption jumps to nine quarts annually per person.
1929 Ice Cream street vendors were known as the "Hokey Pokey Men" and they were soon replaced by large dairy corporations.
1930 Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is introduced to the commercial market for the purpose of keeping ice cream frozen.
1934 The first chocolate covered ice cream on a stick was introduced.
1946 With the end of dairy rationing due to World War II, Americans began consuming more than 20 quarts of ice cream per person that year.
1940-
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The ice cream industry grows and remains a constant through the 1970's.
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1970
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The traditional ice cream parlor begins to disappear with the advent of Prepackaged ice cream sold in supermarkets.
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1988-
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In response to American's obsession with diets, Eskimo Pie introduced the
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1991
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first reduced fat ice cream bar sweetened with aspartame, a sugar substitute.
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American Ice Cream Facts
Although Americans are eating more vegetables and cutting back on fatting foods such as red meat and eggs, a bowl of ice cream has not left the staple of most Americans diet.
Americans consume a yearly average of 23.2 quarts of ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, ices and other commercially made frozen dairy products.
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The Northern Central States have the highest per capita consumption of ice cream at 4.17 quarts. The top three ice cream eating cities are: Portland, Oregon; St. Louis, Missouri; and Seattle, Washington.
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More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week.
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Ice cream consumption is the highest during the months of July and August. July is National Ice Cream Month.
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Children ages two through 12 and adult over age 45, eat more ice cream than any other age groups.
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The average number of licks to polish off a single ice cream cone is 50.
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98 percent of all American households purchase ice cream.
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Source: Internet http://www.makeicecream.com/sendicecream/contriv.html