NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH

NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH

I scream, you scream! We all scream for ice cream! If you haven't guessed, July is National Ice Cream Month. You have an entire month to cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor or try a new flavor every day!

#NationalIceCreamMonth

Like many of the foods holidays we have on the calendar, the exact origin of ice cream is unknown. What we do know, however, is the origin of ice cream likely dates back to A.D. 54 to 68 during the time when Nero was Emperor of Rome. Evidence shows harvesting ice or snow, then flavoring it with honey or other flavorings to make ice cream. Alexander the Great supposedly enjoyed icy drinks that had flavorings such as honey or nectar, too!

For a while, ice cream was only an occasional special treat, mainly for the rich. The first appearance of ice cream in the U.S. is found in a letter by Maryland Governor William Bladen in 1744. Early U.S. Presidents also had a liking towards ice cream. In fact, in the summer of 1790, George Washington spent approximately $200 for ice cream.

In 1843, Nancy Johnson patented the hand crank ice cream maker. Eight years later, in 1851, Jacob Fussell built the first ice cream factory. The invention of mechanical refrigeration helped keep large amounts of ice cream cool. Further improvements and new inventions in technology made ice cream more available to the general public.

Fun Ice Cream Facts

1. Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream.

2. The ice cream soda was invented in 1874.

3. It takes roughly 50 licks to finish the average-sized ice cream cone.

4. California produces the most ice cream in the U.S.

CHILLING OUT DURING #NationalIceCreamMonth

Luckily, there is plenty of opportunity to celebrate National Ice Cream Month starting on July 1 with National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day. July 17 gives a refreshing opportunity to enjoy National Peach Ice Cream Day. If you prefer to enjoy ice cream without any distractions, National Vanilla Ice Cream Day is for you.

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Show us using #NationalIceCreamMonth on social media.

HISTORY

President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month, along with the third Sunday of the month, as National Ice Cream Day.