June 10. World Ice Cream Day. An unofficial but the sweetest holiday of the year. On this day, you don't need to give gifts, write reports, or dress up in costumes. Just one thing is enough: buy a scoop of your favorite ice cream, popsicle, fruit sorbet, or pistachio gelato. And enjoy. Ice cream is not just a dessert. It's a stress reliever, nostalgia for childhood, and a symbol of summer. How did it come about? Why does it have its own day? And where can you find the most unusual ice cream in the world? Let's flip through the sweet history. Ancient Roots: From Snow with Fruits to Sherbet The history of ice cream dates back over 4000 years. In Ancient China, emperors enjoyed a mixture of snow with pieces of fruit and honey. The secret of preparation was kept in secret. Alexander the Great ordered slaves to run to the mountains for snow during his campaigns to mix it with nectar and wine. In the Roman Empire, Nero sent messengers for ice from the mountains, and chefs seasoned it with fruit juices. The real breakthrough occurred in the Arab world, where they learned to mix snow with sugar and rose water, making sherbet. That's where the recipe spread to Europe through Sicily and Spain. The Birth of Modern Ice Cream: France, Italy, and Vanilla In the 16th century, Italian chefs (especially architect and chef Bernardino Buontalenti) created the prototype of modern ice cream — gelato. In France, under Catherine de' Medici, ice cream became the property of the aristocracy. The first ice cream café opened in Paris in 1670. But the real boom happened in the 19th century when refrigeration machines were invented. In 1851, an American named Jacob Fussel founded the first industrial ice cream factory. And in 1904, at the World's Fair in St. Louis, a vendor who ran out of plates suggested putting a scoop of ice cream in a waffle cone — thus, the classic was born. Why June 10 There is no exact history. It is believed that the date of June 10 was chosen by ice cream pro ... Read more