By: Ethan Chau

During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, his love for jelly beans was well-known, but many weren’t aware of the president’s soft spot for ice cream. In 1984, Reagan issued Proclamation 5219, declaring July National Ice Cream Month.

The sugary dessert uses milk and sugar as its main ingredients and was invented by the Arabs during the 9th century. The Europeans found ice cream in the 16th century, but the first account of the treat didn’t come in the U.S. until 1744 when Thomas Bladen, Maryland’s Governor, served it to guests.

Currently, Americans consume the most ice cream on Earth, eating an average of 20 pounds of the delicious treat per person each year. Although California produces more ice cream than any other state, the biggest lovers of the delicacy live in Washington DC, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

However, ice cream may not just be a tasty snack but a personality indicator. Alan Hirsch, a founder of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, believes that ice cream can reflect a person’s traits. For example, vanilla lovers are believed to be impulsive, while chocolate fans are lively, charming, and a bit dramatic.

Because of its popularity, ice cream has been a favorite for setting Guinness World Records. According to dogonews, Italy’s Dimitri Panciera achieved the Guinness World Record for balancing the most ice cream scoops on a single cone in 2018, and Germany’s Andre Ortalf set a record for most eaten ice cream in 30 seconds in 2023.

National Ice Cream Month urges people to celebrate with proper activities and ceremonies. This means devouring as much ice cream as you can. So, savor this time of the year, and happy National Ice Cream Month!

Source:
https://www.dogonews.com/2024/6/28/scream-for-ice-cream-july-is-national-ice-cream-month

Image Credit by Lukas