The Origins and History of Gelato

Where Gelato (Ice Cream) was born: interesting facts about its origins 

The true origin of ice cream/gelato is unknown, but we do know that, in ancient times, some populations, including the Palestinians, preserved snow by compressing it in special containers, so they could store it even during summer to combat the heat. According to some accounts, forms of granita were even offered by Pharaohs to their guests. Apparently, Cleopatra offered Caesar and Antony a drink of fruit juice and ice when she first met them. 

Even the Romans had their "nivatae potiones",which were cold desserts made with snow, honey and fruit, enjoyed by aristocrats and common people alike. 

During the Middle Ages, the Arabs came up with a more refined production method: they froze fruit juices by placing them in containers submerged in crushed ice. By doing this, they were able to distribute what they called "sherbet", i.e. "sweet snow", throughout the regions of Southern Europe they had conquered, including Spain and Sicily. 

What’s the history of ice cream as we know it today? Let's find out together! 

 

Who invented Gelato itself?

There are three men recognised as the very first to make gelato: Ruggeri, Buontalenti and Coltelli. 

Ruggeri was a humble livestock seller who lived in the first half of the 16th century in Florence. He entered a competition organised by the Medici court, which required him to "prepare a unique dish never seen before" and won with the cold dessert he created, made with ice and fruit. This allowed him to join the court of Catherine de Medici in France, who considered him the only cook capable of surpassing the French chefs. 

Bernardo Buontalenti came onto the scene in the second half of the 16th century. He was a famous Florentine painter, architect and engineer, as well as an amateur cook. He is credited with being the first to introduce milk and eggs to the recipe, creating a mix of zabaglione and fruit dubbed “Crema Fiorentina” (Florentine Cream). 

Francesco Procopio di Coltelli was a Sicilian fisherman born in the 17th century. Tired of relying on the sea for his livelihood, he decided to use a sorbet-making machine left to him by his grandfather and began experimenting with new recipes. He is credited with replacing honey with sugar and using salt mixed with ice to make the mixture colder. After perfecting the recipe, he decided to move to Paris, where he opened the first real gelateria worthy of the name: Café Procope. It was so successful that even the most renowned intellectuals of the time such as Voltaire, Balzac, Victor Hugo, Diderot, D'Alembert, De Musset, Doctor Guillotin went there, and it’s even claimed that Napoleon was a regular visitor. 

While the precise origins of ice cream aren’t entirely clear, one thing is certain: the first gelatiere (ice cream maker) was definitely Italian! 

 

Who invented the ice cream cone?

In 1903, Italo Marchioni patented the wafer for the gelato/ice cream cone in Washington in the United States.  Today, this wafer is loved and recognised worldwide. 

He invented it as a solution to the problem posed by serving his gelato/ice cream in glass cups that often broke or were not returned to him, resulting in a financial loss. This idea allowed his customers to enjoy it on the move, rather than having to eat it on the spot. 

Since then, the ice cream cone has spread to all corners of the globe and remains one of the most popular dessert items stemming from Italian tradition.