Ice cream - a brief history.

The origin of ice cream dates all the way back to second century B.C.

No specific date or inventor is marked with its origin.

What we do know?

323 to 356 B.C., Alexander the Great enjoys snow and ice flavored with honey and nectar.

A.D. 54 to 86 during the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius Caesar frequently sends runners into the mountains for snow.

Then flavoring it with fruits and juices.

1,500 to 1,600 C.E., Marco Polo returns from China with a recipe similar to sherbet

1700, "cream ice" appears regularly at the table of Charles I.

1744, the first official account of ice cream in the new world in a letter written in 1744 by a guest of Maryland governor - William Bladen.

May 12th, 1777, first ad for ice cream appears in the New York Gazette.

1800s, manufacturing ice cream becomes an industry in America due to technological advances.

1874, the American soda fountain shop and profession of the soda jerk emerges with the invention of the ice cream soda.

1896, the first ice cream cone is produced credited to Italo Marchiony.

1897, Alfred Cralle patents the ice cream scoop.

1890s, religious criticism for eating "sinfully" rich ice cream sodas on Sunday

spurs the creation of the "Sunday"

with elimination of carbonated water, later changed to sundae.

1946, America celebrates its World War Two victory

with ice cream consuming over 20 quarts per person.

1984, President Ronald Reagan designates July as National Ice Cream Month,

and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day.

21st century, ice cream history is still in the making with new flavors and concoctions developed on a continuous basis.

For more on ice cream, watch part 2 - Ice Cream Today.

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