The origins and history of ice cream

What is the story of ice cream?

There are three men recognised as the very first to make artisan gelato: Ruggeri, Buontalenti and Coltelli.  

Ruggeri was a humble livestock seller who lived in the first half of the 16th century in Florence. He entered a competition organised by the Medici court, which required him to "prepare a unique dish never seen before" and won with the cold dessert he created, made with ice and fruit. This allowed him to join the court of Catherine de Medici in France, who considered him the only cook capable of surpassing the French chefs.  

Bernardo Buontalenti came onto the scene in the second half of the 16th century. He was a famous Florentine painter, architect and engineer, as well as an amateur cook. He is credited with being the first to introduce milk and eggs to the recipe, creating a mix of zabaglione and fruit dubbed “Crema Fiorentina” (Florentine Cream).  

Francesco Procopio di Coltelli was a Sicilian fisherman born in the 17th century. Tired of relying on the sea for his livelihood, he decided to use a sorbet-making machine left to him by his grandfather and began experimenting with new recipes. He is credited with replacing honey with sugar and using salt mixed with ice to make the mixture colder.  

After perfecting the recipe, he decided to move to Paris, where he opened the first real gelateria worthy of the name Café Procope. It was so successful that even the most renowned intellectuals of the time, such as Voltaire, Balzac, Victor Hugo, Diderot, D'Alembert, De Musset, and Doctor Guillotin went there, and it’s even claimed that Napoleon was a regular visitor.  

While the precise origins of ice cream aren’t entirely clear, one thing is certain: the first gelato maker was definitely Italian!  

 

Who invented the first ice cream?

The exact origins of ice cream are elusive, as early versions of this dessert were present in many different ancient cultures.  

The Persians created "sweet snow" from rosewater and crushed ice in 400 BC, while the Romans enjoyed sweet desserts with a sprinkle of snow in the 1st century. Apparently, Cleopatra offered Caesar and Antony a drink of fruit juice and ice when she first met them.  

How did ice cream arrive in the UK? It's not known precisely, although Marco Polo is thought to have re-introduced the dessert to the European continent in the 13th century from his travels to the East, and that's why many early gelato flavours featured rose water and orange-flower blossom.  

King Charles II was the first to serve ice cream in England at a royal banquet in 1672. The first printed ice cream recipe in Europe was published by Lady Anne Fanshawe in 1665 under the title "How to Make Icy Cream".  

For those who love rich, creamy flavours, custard-based ice creams made from egg yolks were invented in the mid-18th century by French chefs.  

 

Who invented the ice cream cone?

In 1903, Italo Marchioni invented the first-ever ice cream cone in Washington in the United States. Today, this wafer is loved and recognised worldwide.  

He developed it as a solution to the problem posed by serving his ice cream in glass cups that often broke or were not returned to him, resulting in a financial loss. This idea allowed his customers to enjoy it on the move rather than having to eat it on the spot.  

Since then, the ice cream cone has spread to all corners of the globe and remains one of the most popular dessert accompaniments.