Today, ice cream is a familiar dessert in many countries around the world. Although ice cream seems like a modern treat, emerging with the development of electricity and technology, this famous sweet actually dates back hundreds of years.
Ice cream existed before the invention of the refrigerator
As early as 200 AD, people enjoyed early forms of frozen desserts. The rulers of that time were among the first fans of this treat, with notable figures like Alexander the Great, who loved honey-drizzled shaved ice, King Solomon from the Bible, and Emperor Nero Caesar, all captivated by the delicacy known as “sweet snow.”
However, the first recorded appearance of ice cream was in China, where they discovered how to mix snow with milk to create this beloved dish. It wasn’t until around the 17th century that ice cream made from milk and butter combined with fresh fruits truly came into being.
Portrait of Alexander the Great, one of the early ice cream enthusiasts
Without modern electric or cooling equipment, creating a cold cup of ice cream was quite challenging in those times. Naturally, only kings and wealthy nobles could indulge in this luxurious treat. In fact, King Charles I of England once offered his chef £500 a year (equivalent to 14 million VND at today’s rates) to keep the ice cream recipe a secret.
Harvesting ice is the first step in making ice cream
To make ice cream, workers first had to harvest ice and store the blocks from winter in specially designed insulated cellars.
Once the ice was ready, chefs would create ice cream by whipping milk and butter with fruits like lemon, strawberries, or vanilla to form a smooth, delicious mixture. This mixture would then be placed in a cylindrical metal container set inside a wooden bucket. The bucket lid had a handle attached to a gear for rotating the inner container.
Close-up of an ancient ice cream maker
In the space between the metal container and the wooden bucket, ice and salt were poured to create a reaction that lowered the temperature below -20 degrees Celsius or even lower.
The handle would be continuously turned for an extended period to ensure the ice cream mixture inside the metal container froze evenly. During this process, chefs had to continuously scrape the frozen mixture off the surfaces to achieve the desired soft ice cream consistency.
After completing these steps, they would scoop the ice cream into a hinged pewter mold to create an attractive shape for the dessert. When served, the ice cream would be garnished with fruits, colorful syrups, and a few sprigs of herbs like mint or cinnamon.
Making delicious ice cream is not an easy task
Today, to meet the growing demand for ice cream production and sales, ice cream machines have been technologically enhanced. Some machines can make ice cream in just a few minutes with an A-Z automated process, including cleaning after making ice cream. This enticing dessert now comes in a variety of colors, flavors, and interesting shapes. After hundreds of years, one thing remains unchanged: the love people have for ice cream.
