Let’s be frank, when the heat is on, we all scream for ice cream!
Always on the mind of most of us, the ice cream is the most popular and most desirable dessert, the world over.
The journey of the cold treat stretches way back to China 678-97AD, and from then on over to Europe, around the 13th century when the Venetian explorer Marco Polo brought the recipe with him to Italy, after a trip to the Far East.

The famous ice cream cone was invented at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, USA, when an ice cream vendor ran out of paper cups so, to satisfy the demand of the festival goers, he decided to join forces with a waffle vendor who rolled his product into “cornucopias.” From that moment, the first ice cream cone shape became iconic around the world.
How we enjoy our ice cream is reflected by our culture, climate and geography of the region.
For example, the most popular ice cream in Indonesia, called “es puter”, is made with coconut milk, as coconuts are more easily available that cow’s milk. Topped with local fruits, it is a 100% vegan proposition for a dessert.

And while not exactly an ice cream, there is a native tree growing in South America that produces beans, which taste exactly like a vanilla ice cream! It is very healthy and packed with vitamins and nutrients.

Have you ever wondered why it is that even when we are full after a big meal, we can still find space for an ice cream? As it turns out, around 50% of the volume of a good quality ice cream is just air, and it’s this air that gives the dessert its soft silky texture.
Ice cream is an ideal after-meal treat, but also makes us feel better when we’re down. Eating ice cream causes the brain to release serotonin – a happy hormone – which makes us feel cheerful again!
In addition, since dairy-based ice cream contains milk and milk fats, it gives us a short-term boost of energy, and it’s also a source of vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. Apart from this, the different toppings and flavours add extra nutrition components to it. For example, dark chocolate ice cream is loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids, which helps in lowering your bad cholesterol and helps improve your heart’s health.
Just keep in mind to enjoy it in moderation, up to two times a week, and preferably opt for low fat and low sugar options.

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