Italian gelato is often celebrated as the progenitor of modern ice cream.

The word "gelato" comes from the Latin "gelātus," meaning "frozen." The origins of ice cream are diverse, and the earliest forms were quite different from what we imagine today.

In the early 17th century, descriptions of ice cream made with fruit began to appear in Italy. Dating back to the late 17th century, the earliest documented recipes for what we now recognize as ice cream emerged from Naples, marking it as the birthplace of modern ice cream.

Ice cream was introduced to European courts by none other than the French Sun King, Louis XIV. Banquet records from the time detailed the deliciousness of Italian ice. Francesca Procopio dei Coltelli, an Italian, brought this delicacy from Sicily to the streets of Paris. In 1686, he opened a café called Café Procope, where a mixture of fresh cream, fruit, sugar, and ice became one of Paris's earliest ice creams. Enlightenment thinkers like Diderot, Rousseau, and Voltaire were regulars at this café.

How was early Italian gelato made? Before the invention of freezing equipment, how did people make ice cream in hot weather? Freezing fresh milk directly would make it as hard as a rock. Although adding a lot of sugar could soften it, it would lower the cream's freezing point, preventing it from fully solidifying.

Long ago, humans discovered the magical properties of ice and saltpeter, and by the 13th century, the Arab world had mastered the use of salt for freezing, a skill that eventually made its way to Italy.

During the production process, people had to continuously churn and shake metal barrels to obtain a smooth and creamy texture. At that time, ice cream production relied entirely on manual labor, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, ice cream ingredients, especially sugar, were extremely expensive. In Europe at the time, ice cream was a luxury enjoyed only by royalty, nobility, and social elites.

It wasn't until the early 19th century that the French gradually mastered the extraction of sugar from sugar beets, previously relying on imports from the Americas. Soon after, the invention of ice cream machines with crank handles further reduced the cost of ice cream production.

All of these developments made ice cream more accessible to the general population. Vienna, the center of arts and technology at the time, was one of the first places to popularize Italian gelato among the common people.

The popularity of ice cream didn't happen overnight. In 19th-century Europe, eating ice cream with a tongue in public was considered crude. Ice cream sold by street vendors was usually served in small crystal cups, and people would elegantly spoon it out. This practice persists in some areas today. The crystal cups on ice cream carts were reused, which could spread disease, thus affecting the rapid spread of ice cream's popularity.

As societal norms evolved, the crystal cup was gradually replaced by the more casual waffle cone. This was the waffle cone, which brought a more casual and joyful atmosphere to ice cream tasting. This usage has continued to this day.

The innovations of the industrial age propelled the development of ice cream, and the prices of raw materials plummeted. Advances in industrial refrigeration technology further improved ice cream production and transportation. Ice cream was introduced to the United States, ushering in a golden age.

The American obsession with ice cream made it a household staple and a worldwide craze. Capital always chases novelty, leading to creative variations and continuous innovation in ice cream manufacturing processes, reaching new heights. Ice cream in various styles and flavors continues to emerge endlessly.

The history of ice cream is a marvelous story, from the small towns of Italy to the courts of France and the streets of Vienna, it has always been a food that evolves with the times. Whether in the scorching heat of summer or the cold winter, a bite of ice cream always brings us happiness and joy. May the deliciousness of ice cream always accompany us, becoming an indispensable part of life.