Ice cream has come a long way from its early beginnings. Have you ever wondered where it all started? Before Oreo Blizzards and cookie dough chunks, what flavor came first?

Let’s scoop into the delicious history of ice cream and discover some chilling facts!

The Origins Of Ice Cream

Frozen desserts date all the way back to ancient times. The Persians, Greeks, and Romans all had their own versions of chilled treats. They were usually made by sweetening snow with fruit juice or even honey. But this wasn't really the ice cream that we know and love today.

What we now call ice cream began to take shape in the 16th and 17th centuries, when chefs in Europe started experimenting with milk, cream, and sugar, and freezing it.

So… What Was the First Flavor?

The first ice cream flavor ever documented was vanilla!

That's right! this simple, classic flavor is the OG of frozen desserts.

While it might not sound like much compared to today’s flavors, vanilla was once considered rare and exotic, made from orchid pods brought over from Central and South America. In early Europe and colonial America, vanilla was expensive, making it the perfect flavor for a fancy frozen treat.

What About Chocolate?

Chocolate was also one of the earliest ice cream flavors to become popular. It came after vanilla, even though people often assume it was the first.

Other Historical Ice Cream Flavors

As ice cream rose in popularity, different regions experimented with their own flavors.

• In France, flavors like orange flower water, apricot, and pistachio became trendy.

• Early Americans tried ice cream made with fruit, nuts, and even parmesan cheese!

• People in China made frozen milk and rice mixtures over 2,000 years ago.

Ice Cream Today: A World of Flavor

From lavender honey to key lime pie, there’s no limit to what people can turn into a frozen treat these days. But no matter how creative things get, vanilla still holds the crown! It remains the most popular ice cream flavor in the world.

Treat Yourself at Action City!

Whether you love classic vanilla or something a little more wild, you’ll find something to love at Action City's Dairy Queen right inside Metropolis Resort.

Craving something sweet after a day of jumping, racing, and playing? Cool off with a Blizzard, sundae, or cone, and raise a spoon to vanilla, the flavor that started it all!