When ice cream was invented?

Ice cream, in its earliest forms, can be traced back to ancient times. Around 400 B.C., Alexander the Great is believed to have enjoyed his fruit sorbet, made by freezing grape juice and honey in a snow pit. In China, ice cream has roots that date back to the Shang dynasty in 1750 B.C., where a delicacy known as "ice noodles" was produced.

Moving forward in time, the first evidence of ice cream made with milk and sugar appears in historical texts from the 13th century in Mughal India. An early form of kulfi, a traditional frozen dessert, is believed to have been crafted by mixing sweetened milk with spices, nuts, and fruits and freezing it in metallic containers immersed in ice.

In the 16th century, the Italian polymath Bernardino de Sahagún documented a drinkable, corn-based ice called tlascalli in the Aztec empire. Later, the infamous explorer Hernán Cortés brought some Aztec cocoa recipes back to Spain, one of which may have been a drink resembling chocolate sorbet.

Throughout the 17th century, iced sweets and sherbets gained popularity in Europe, especially among the wealthy and noble classes. Coffee-house owners in London and continental Europe were experimenting with cold and refreshing drinks, blending shaved ice with wines and flavors like lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla. During this time, Italy remained a center for ice cream, as various Italian immigrants spread the art of gelato making to different corners of the world.

In the 18th century, ice cream became a popular dessert in the American colonies. Colonial cooks used ice boxes insulated with straw to store ice harvested from ponds and rivers during winter months. The United States saw the inception of the first ice cream production on a commercial scale in the early 19th century, with notable figures like Jacob Fussell and Dolley Madison contributing to its prominence.

In the second half of the 19th century, technological innovations like refrigerated shipping and the incorporation of ice cream makers in households allowed ice cream to become more widely accessible. The invention of the ice cream cone by Ernest Hamwi during the 1904 World's Fair played a significant role in popularizing ice cream as a convenient treat for the masses.

Modern-day ice cream comes in an array of flavors, variations, and formats, from simple scoops and cones to elaborate sundaes, floats, and pastries. It continues to be a globally enjoyed delicacy that brings delight and refreshment to people of all ages and backgrounds.