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The Inside Scoop: Anita’s Favorite Fun Facts About Ice Cream

September 18, 2024
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We admit it: we’re endlessly fascinated by gelato. There’s always something new to learn, some new facts about ice cream to share. So whip up a treat with your favorite Anita products, and let’s dig into some scoops of gelato trivia.

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Fun Facts About Ice Cream Around the World

#1 Where does the word “gelato” come from?

We get the name of our favorite sweet treat from the Italian word “congelato,” meaning frozen. Gelato is actually stored at warmer temperatures than ice cream, preserving its extra-creamy texture.
araffes on a blue plate with sprinkles on a red background

#2 Which country eats the most ice cream per year?

New Zealand! Despite its tiny size, this Pacific nation punches above its weight when it comes to enjoying this delicious frozen treat – including plenty of scoops from Anita in Queenstown. (In case you were wondering, the US comes in at second place, with the average American eating 48 pints every year!)

#3 Where was the first ice cream shop opened?

You might think it would be in Italy, the birthplace of gelato, but the first shop selling it directly to the public was opened in Paris! Blocks of ice kept the frozen desserts cool until the invention of the freezer.
there is a bowl of ice cream with sprinkles and a spoon

Interesting Facts About Ice Cream In The United States

#1 Which US presidents loved a good scoop?

Let’s be honest, they probably all did – but George Washington was the one who made sure that the White House had plenty of ice cream-making equipment! Thomas Jefferson is credited with writing down the first American ice cream recipe, showing that the Oval Office runs on frozen treats.

#2 When did the first parlor open in America?

In 1776, the same year the United States declared its independence, New York confectioner Phillip Lenzi added an ice cream counter to his candy store. These days, all forms of this frozen sweet treat are still beloved in the Big Apple, especially gelato – there’s even an Anita location at Times Square!
three cones of ice cream with sprinkles on a white surface

#3 Who invented the ice cream cone?

You can find a few answers to this one. You might have heard about how an ice cream vendor worked with the waffle maker next door to create the cone at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair after he ran out of cups.

But a few years earlier, New York immigrants Antonio Valvona and Italo Marchiony were competing to patent their devices for creating edible cups for their favorite frozen dessert first. More than 100 years later, the waffle cone is just as popular and still beloved by fans all over the world.

Treat Yourself to the World’s Favorite Dessert at Anita

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite with our facts about ice cream and gelato, it’s time to reward yourself with a scoop or two of your favorite Anita gelato flavors! With stores around the world, you never know when you might stumble on one of our gelato gems. With every cup or cone, scooped up in-store or delivered to your door, your day becomes a little sweeter!

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