On sweltering summer days, the iconic jingle of an approaching ice cream truck sends children racing through parks and down streets, eager for cones, bars, and soft serve. This beloved summer tradition has a rich history, tracing its roots back to ancient innovations and evolving over centuries.
The Origins of Ice Cream
Frozen sweet treats have existed in various forms for thousands of years. In ancient China and Japan, early predecessors to ice cream were enjoyed, but it was Persia that food historian Sarah Lohman points to as the “motherland of ice cream.” Persians developed techniques to make and store ice in massive freezers known as yakhchāl.
The 16th century marked a significant advancement in ice cream history. Alchemists discovered that adding salt or saltpeter to ice would lower the freezing point, facilitating the production of ice cream. By the end of the century, ice cream was primarily made by servants in elite households.
From Luxury to Common Treat
“We don’t really see ice cream being sold regularly until the 18th century when confectioners made it for wealthy households,” Lohman explains. Technological advances throughout the 19th century made ice cream more accessible, transitioning it from a luxury item to a treat for the masses.
In the early 1840s, Pennsylvania inventor Nancy Johnson revolutionized the industry with the creation of the first hand-cranked ice cream freezer. “That tool was a significant change,” says Lohman. Concurrently, the American ice industry expanded with the invention of a horse-drawn saw for harvesting ice from lakes.
America’s dairy-rich agriculture made the ingredients for ice cream—milk and eggs—affordable and abundant. This accessibility set the stage for a new era of ice cream consumption.
The Advent of Ice Cream Street Vendors
By the mid-19th century, Italian immigrants in America began selling ice cream on the streets, serving flavors in penny licks—small glass dishes costing a penny. “A consumer would have to eat it right there, using either their tongue or fingers, then hand the penny lick back to the seller,” Lohman notes.
These vendors grew popular, especially towards the end of the 19th century. To boost sales, sellers shifted from reusable glass vessels to serving ice cream on paper and eventually in edible wrappers like cookies and wafers. This change allowed customers to take their treats with them, increasing sales and accessibility.
The Ice Cream Truck Revolution
The true game-changer came with the invention of the ice cream truck, which began hitting the streets in the early 20th century. Ice cream trucks transformed the industry by bringing frozen treats directly to neighborhoods, making ice cream more accessible than ever before.
“Ice cream trucks changed the way people viewed ice cream as they created a new level of accessibility that didn’t exist before,” says Manish Vora, co-founder and co-CEO of the Museum of Ice Cream. Founded as a pop-up experience in 2016, the Museum of Ice Cream now boasts multiple locations, celebrating the cultural impact of ice cream.
Conclusion
From ancient Persia to modern American streets, ice cream has undergone significant transformations, evolving from a luxury enjoyed by the elite to a ubiquitous summer delight. The introduction of the ice cream truck revolutionized how people enjoy this treat, cementing its place as a beloved part of summer in the U.S. As the sound of the ice cream truck’s jingle approaches, it signals more than just a tasty treat—it heralds a century-long tradition of joy and nostalgia.
