Where does ice cream come from? What flavours are there? And how do you get vegan ice cream?
Can you imagine summer without ice cream? We certainly can't! Whether you get yours from the ice cream parlour or from the freezer at home, nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than this ice-cold classic. But where exactly does ice cream come from? And what do vegans do when they fancy something cold?
Which country comes to mind when you think of ice cream? Most likely Italy and the renowned Italian gelato. In actual fact, ice cream was not invented by the Italians but comes from another continent entirely, namely Ancient China. This being said, the ice cream produced more than 5,000 years ago had little in common with the ice cream of today. For starters, there were no freezers in those days. Instead, the Chinese used real snow. Of course, this wasn't particularly easy. They would collect the snow in the mountains and bring it down to the valley as quickly as possible – naturally, some of it melted along the way. The snow was then flavoured with honey, wine, fruit and spices. The Ancient Greeks also combined snow with rose water, fruit and honey.
It was the Chinese who – with the help of the chemical compound potassium nitrate – later invented a method of making ice cream from water, without having to transport snow from the mountains. This knowledge was brought to Europe at the end of the 13th Century by the explorer Marco Polo when he returned home to Italy. And the rest is history!
The recipes for ice cream have been refined over the centuries. What began simply as flavoured frozen water has gradually evolved into the sweet and creamy treat that we now know and love. Ice cream finally entered our homes with the invention of the freezer.
Nowadays, ice cream is no longer made from snow. It is made primarily from water, sugar and milk. Sometimes egg white or egg yolk are also added. Also included are colours and flavourings as well as special ingredients to ensure that not all ice cream tastes the same. This means we can enjoy different flavours such as vanilla and chocolate ice cream. The ingredients are mixed together while being thoroughly chilled. After some time, this results in a creamy mixture.
Whether you're at the supermarket or the ice cream parlour, you not only get to choose the flavour of ice cream you want but also the type. That's no mean feat!
Ice lollies are made primarily from water and sugar and include additional ingredients to enhance the flavour. The mixture is simply frozen without the need for regular stirring. Ice lollies are therefore relatively firm and perfect for sucking, e.g. on a stick.
Granita is very similar to the ice cream of old. The modern-day version comprises water, sugar and lemon juice, and has the consistency of crushed ice cubes. Even coffee can be added for flavour.
Sorbet is a cross between ice cream and granita. It's not as creamy as ice cream but not as grainy as granita. Sorbet is made from puréed fruit, fruit juice and sugar. Popular flavours include strawberry, lemon and mango sorbet.
To make the kind of ice cream that is usually served in a cornet or sundae, one key ingredient is missing and that's the namesake ingredient – cream. This is what makes ice cream so lovely and creamy. Eggs and other ingredients are also added such as fruit, chocolate, spices such as vanilla, as well as fancier ingredients such as caramel sauce, nuts, biscuit and frozen cookie dough.
A lighter version of this ice cream is yoghurt ice cream. Here, yoghurt is used instead of cream, giving it a delicious, slightly sour taste. Frozen yoghurt is similar to yoghurt ice cream, however the yoghurt flavour is more prominent.
In addition to the different varieties and flavours of ice cream, there are also various ways in which you can eat ice cream – in a cornet or in a sundae, for example. And what do the Swiss prefer? In 2018, the Coop member press conducted a survey. Ice cream cornets came top, followed by sundaes and then ice lollies.
For many, ice cream without milk or cream is unthinkable. Yet this food trend shows that vegan ice cream can be utterly delicious. Nice cream is made from frozen bananas, a little plant-based milk and other ingredients. Nice cream is easy to make at home with a high-power blender or food processor. You can enhance the banana base with all kind of ingredients, such as:
· frozen berries – like raspberries, blueberries or strawberries
· cocoa powder or chocolate chunks
· biscuit pieces
· spices such as vanilla, cinnamon or ginger
· caramel or chocolate sauce
· nut butter such as peanut butter
· toppings such as cacao nibs, coconut flakes, nuts
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