National Vanilla Ice Cream Day

A Brief History of Vanilla Ice Cream

On July 23rd, National Vanilla Ice Cream day is celebrated all over the United States. In honor of this great American tradition, let’s take a look at the history of this delicious flavor.

Vanilla ice cream is believed to have originated in Mexico. The first recipe was written down in 1768 by a Mexican nun named Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Vanilla comes from the pods of a species of orchid called Vanilla planifolia. These days, about 80% of the world’s vanilla supply comes from Madagascar.

Interestingly, vanilla was not always used to flavor ice cream. In fact, it wasn’t even used to flavor food at all! Vanilla was originally used as a remedy for stomachaches and as a aromatherapy treatment. It wasn’t until the 19th century that vanilla began to be used as a flavoring for food.

How Vanilla Ice Cream is Made

The process of making vanilla ice cream is actually quite simple. First, milk and cream are combined and heated until they reach a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, egg yolks are added to the mixture and allowed to cook until they reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the egg yolks have reached the correct temperature, sugar is added to the mixture and stirred until it dissolves. Then, the mixture is cooled to room temperature and vanilla extract is added for flavor. Finally, the mixture is placed in an ice cream maker and churned until it reaches a creamy consistency.

There are actually quite a few different types of vanilla ice cream available on the market today. French vanilla ice cream contains eggs while Philadelphia-style vanilla ice cream does not. German chocolate cake batter and fresh fruits are sometimes added to traditional vanilla ice cream to create new flavors.

July 23rd is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day! In honor of this great American tradition, we took a look at the history of this delicious flavor. Vanilla ice cream is believed to have originated in Mexico and was first flavored with an extract made from orchid flowers. Today, there are many different types of vanilla ice cream available on the market, including French vanilla and Philadelphia-style vanilla. So what are you waiting for? Go out and enjoy some delicious vanilla ice cream today!