Unraveling the origins of the refreshing ice cream cone.

In 54 AD, when Nero ascended the throne as Roman emperor, he surprised everyone at a banquet with a unique dessert called "Sweet Snow." To create this dessert, he sent people to the top of the Apennine Mountains to collect fresh snow, which he then repeatedly preserved with honey and fruit. Later, Nero's "Sweet Snow" became the precursor to modern-day ice cream.

But it wasn't until over 500 years later, during the Tang Dynasty in China, that Emperor Nero's sweet snow dessert appeared with a new flavor. It was a combination of fermented buffalo, cow, and goat milk, mixed with flour, seasoned with camphor for a final flavor, and then chilled with ice and salt. At that time, these precious dishes were only served at grand court banquets.

After a long period of refinement, it wasn't until 1295, when the Italian navigator Marco Polo returned home after 17 years in China, that he published his book "The Face of the World." Among countless things that astonished Europe, Marco Polo mentioned something called "milk dried in a paste." And according to the Italians, Chinese cuisine would have remained just a paste of milk if it weren't for Marco Polo. It is thanks to him that we have ice cream as we know it today.

In Vietnam, ice cream only appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, when the French brought the recipe over. Initially, ice cream seemed to be popular only in the South.

There are two types of ice cream: gelato and ice cream. However, people often equate "gelato" and "ice cream," calling gelato Italian ice cream. But you should know that these two concepts are completely different. Gelato represents the romantic, gentle nature of Italy, while ice cream bears the mark of the industrial age, distinctly American in style.

The main differences lie in flavor, fat content, gas content, and temperature. Authentic gelato has a pure, natural flavor derived from carefully selected fresh fruit ingredients, without preservatives or additives. Therefore, the flavor and color of gelato are always natural. Ice cream, on the other hand, is more likely to impress with its strong artificial flavors and additives.

You know, creating the delicious, sweet, and refreshing ice cream we have today is not easy at all.

Bao Khuyen