Are you an expert on ice cream? Not so fast! This is one of America’s favorite frozen treats, after all, and its history is almost as fascinating as the hundreds of flavors it comes in.
With summer nearly here and shops scrambling to satisfy their customers’ voracious appetites, it pays to be in the know about what makes some desserts more appealing than others. Frozen treats are wonderful for both their incredible flavor and ability to cool a person down on a hot day, coming in just enough varieties to satisfy just about any appetite. From frozen yogurt’s low calorie count to
Are you an expert on ice cream? Not so fast! This is one of America’s favorite frozen treats, after all, and its history is almost as fascinating as the hundreds of flavors it comes in.
With summer nearly here and shops scrambling to satisfy their customers’ voracious appetites, it pays to be in the know about what makes some desserts more appealing than others. Frozen treats are wonderful for both their incredible flavor and ability to cool a person down on a hot day, coming in just enough varieties to satisfy just about any appetite. From frozen yogurt’s low calorie count to gelato’s rich flavor, there’s an entire world of history to enjoy every time you step into a frozen dessert shop and start digging around for your next favorite.
Let’s see just how much you know about frozen desserts!
Gelato Uses Less Air In The Churning Process
What separates ice cream and gelato from one another, anyway? Besides the name, of course! While ice cream uses around 50% air after the churning process, contributing to its fluffy appearance, gelato uses much, much less. The average jar of gelato contains just 25% to 30% air, resulting in a smoother finish and a heavier feel that separates it from its more common counterpart. Today nearly 10% of all the milk produced by American dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream.
Ice Cream Has Been Around For Centuries
Believe it or not, ice cream is far from a new creation! Many cultures across the globe have boasted their own versions of frozen treats for many a century, with today’s modern ice cream cone just a more industrialized version of an old favorite. While the societies of yore didn’t have the technology to create the fatty delights we indulge in today, they would crush ice, fruit and honey together during the hot months to keep the sweat at bay. Today June is the month that produces the most ice cream, so if you’re born in this month give yourself a nice high five!
Americans Adore Ice Cream And Gelato
How much do Americans love ice cream? Let statistics answer this one. The NPD Group conducted some research lately on the impact frozen desserts have on the population and found out that, during any given two-week period, 40% of Americans will eat ice cream or gelato. Not enough? The average American adult will consume ice cream 30 times in a year. Chalk that up to there being over 2,500 frozen yogurt stores around the country and you have one very popular treat!
The Most Popular Flavor Is Still Vanilla
What’s your favorite ice cream? While everyone’s got their mainstay, some flavors have yet to be toppled from the proverbial mountain. According to a recent survey provided by the International Ice Cream Association, vanilla is still the most popular ice cream and gelato flavor. This is followed close behind by strawberry and chocolate. Don’t see your personal favorite on here? There’s still a big market for mango, pistachio and more unique flavors like red bean, so never fear!
Frozen Yogurt Supplies Make Or Break The Store
Disposable ice cream cups and colored spoons make all the difference when you need to whet your appetite with your favorite frozen desserts. Today over one and a half billion gallons of ice cream are produced in the United States every year, with thousands of ice cream and frozen yogurt stores dotting the country. When you want to try out a new flavor, all you have to do is request a tasting spoon or two. When you’re on-the-go, a custom ice cream cup or ice cream cups with lids will have you covered…literally!
Pat yourself on the back. You’ve got more than enough fun ice cream facts to fill up any conversation…as well as some new ideas as to your next tasty sundae excursion. Bring it on, summer!