By: Kingsley Wong
It was commonly known that President Ronald Reagan loved jellybeans. But the 40th President of the United States also liked ice cream. He issued Proclamation 5219 in 1984. It proclaimed the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day and July as National Ice Cream Month. He requested that Americans observe the month “with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Before Reagan, ice cream had a long history. The Arabs invented the classic ice cream recipe in the ninth century, with sugar and milk as the main ingredients. The 16th century saw the discovery of the creamy dessert by Europeans. However, it wasn’t until 1744 that Maryland Governor Thomas Bladen began serving ice cream to visitors that the dish was first mentioned in the US.
The country has, nevertheless, made up for the missed years. With an average annual consumption of 20 pounds (9 kg) of ice cream per person, Americans are currently the top ice cream consumers in the world. Every year, more than $6 billion is spent on the confection. Although California is the state that produces the most ice cream, Wisconsin, Washington, DC, and Rhode Island have the highest per capita consumption rates.
Globally, there are more than 1,000 known varieties of ice cream. Although there are many different flavors, vanilla is still the most popular option worldwide. Chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, and cookies & cream are some of the other favorites. It is interesting to note that ice cream has long been flavored with unusual substances. A cookbook from 1790 contained recipes for ice cream flavored with ginger, Parmesan, and even brown bread!
Due to its widespread appeal, the frozen treat is frequently featured in Guinness World Records. Andre Ortolf of Germany broke the previous record in 2023 by consuming 1.25 pounds (568 grams) of ice cream in just 30 seconds. Italian Dimitri Panciera broke the Guiness World Record in 2013 when he managed to balance 85 scoops of ice cream atop a cone. However, Ashrita Furman, a serial record breaker with 123 scoops, stole the record from him. Dimitri Panciera managed to regain his world record in 2018 after managing to balance 125 scoops on a single cone. Millions of viewers worldwide saw his incredible feat on live television.
Nonetheless, ice cream is a very popular treat in the US, and worldwide. The IDFA recently conducted a survey/study, and found out that around 97% of Americans enjoy ice cream. The estimated annual worldwide consumption of ice cream in 2023 is around 15.4 billion liters. New Zealand and the US are the top 2 worldwide consumers, with 28.4 liters per person in New Zealand, and 20.8 liters per person in the US.
Do you like ice cream, and if you do, what’s your favorite flavor？
Image Credit by Ali Dashti