Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Imagine it is a hot summer day. The sun burns down on your skin. You have been working hard. You just want a break. You want something cool to eat. What do you choose?
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Well, millions of people around the world choose ice cream! Today’s Spotlight is on the history of this special icy treat.
Voice 1
Ice cream is generally a sweetened frozen food. It is usually made from cream, sugar, eggs, and different flavors. However, there are many different ways to make ice cream. No one knows exactly who invented ice cream. But there are many stories about how it began.
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A version of ice cream may have begun in Persia more than 2,500 years ago. And some stories say that Nero enjoyed ice cream in ancient Rome. They say Emperor Nero would send servants to get ice from the mountains. Then he would cover it in fruit juices and honey.
Voice 1
The kind of ice cream we eat today may have been invented in China. The Tang period in China was between 600 and 900 AD. During this period, people brought ice cream treats to the ruler. They heated buffalo, cow and goat milk together. After a time, the mix became thick like yogurt. They added flour to the mix. And they put camphor in it for flavor. They cooled the mix in icy water. Then they served it to the Emperor.
Voice 2
Marco Polo was an Italian explorer. He traveled to many parts of the world as a merchant. When he visited China, he tried many of these ice treats. He even learned how to make some of them. Then, when he returned, he made these iced treats for his family and friends.
Voice 1
Around this time there were also simple treats that were more like sorbet. Sorbet is an icy treat made with ice, sugar and fruit or fruit juice.
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All of these ice cream treats became very popular in France in the 1500s. And it was not too long before they became popular all around the world. Over time, ice cream changed and developed in different ways.
Voice 1
As you have heard, ice cream was first enjoyed only by the rich. This was because keeping food at such a cold temperature or getting ice from a mountain top cost a lot of money. But, over time, the methods for freezing improved. And more and more people had the money and resources to buy ice cream and keep it cold.
Voice 2
Today, People all over the world enjoy ice cream. Some studies say that New Zealand eats the most ice cream in the world per person. But other countries eat almost as much, including Australia, Finland, the United States, China and India.
Voice 1
Ice cream is a big business in many parts of the world. In 2016, researchers estimated that this industry was worth over 68 million dollars US. And it is only getting bigger. Growing markets like Brazil, China, and India are buying more ice cream. Experts estimate that by 2023, the ice cream industry will be worth over 97 million dollars US.
Voice 2
Some studies even suggest that the 2020 pandemic increased ice cream sales even more! They suggest that people were looking for delicious food that made them feel happy. That is ice cream!
Voice 1
So what kinds of ice cream are these people eating? Let’s take a look at some of the different kinds of ice cream around the world.
Voice 2
Italy serves an ice cream called gelato. Italians make gelato with milk, water and different flavors. But gelato is a little different from ice cream. There is not as much air in gelato. Gelato is much thicker than normal ice cream. A person can eat smaller amounts because it is so filling and sweet.
Voice 1
In India, a popular treat similar to ice cream is called kulfi. Kulfi has more ice in it than other ice creams. It is not as smooth. Indians flavor kulfi with foods like pistachio nuts or cardamom spice.
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In Japan, people eat mochi ice cream. First, people shape the ice cream into small, round balls. Then they cover these balls with mochi. Mochi is a kind of sticky rice.
Voice 1
Some places even have a special ice cream they are famous for. In Ecuador there is a town called Salcedo. In Salcedo they serve ice cream on a stick. They freeze the ice cream in different layers, or parts. Each layer is a different color. So, the ice cream almost looks like a rainbow. There are four layers. Three are made from local fruits. And there is a top layer made of thick, sweet cream. When you drive into Salcedo you can even see a large statue of this ice cream treat!
Voice 2
Ice cream is also a great treat because you can make it yourself! You can make your own ice cream at home with only a few simple ingredients. This ice cream looks a little different from the ice cream you buy in a store. It is softer, but it still tastes good. Here is how you make it. You can also find this recipe on our website.
Voice 1
To make this ice cream you need two zippered plastic bags – one large and one small. Fill the large bag halfway with ice and rock salt. Leave enough room in the large bag to fit the smaller bag inside. Then, in the small bag, combine milk or cream and a small amount of sugar. You can also add another flavor, like vanilla or honey. Take all of the air out of the small bag. And make sure you close the bag very tightly! Then put it inside the large bag of ice and salt. Here comes the fun part. Close the large bag, too. Then, shake shake shake! You must shake the two bags together for five to ten minutes. After it becomes harder, remove the bag of milk and sugar. It should now be ice cream. Now enjoy!
Voice 2
What kind of ice cream is common in your country? What is your favorite kind of ice cream? Tell us what you think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us at contact@spotlightenglish.com. You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Sara DeKoster. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United States. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.spotlightenglish.com. This program is called “Ice Cream Around the World”.
Voice 2
Visit our website to download our free official App for Android and Apple devices. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Question:
What kind of ice cream is popular in your country?
Recipe for Homemade Ice Cream
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup OR 242g half-and-half (You can also use cream or milk)
1-2 Tablespoons OR 12-24g sugar
1/2 OR 2.5mL pure vanilla extract
3 cups ice
1/3 cup OR 96g kosher salt
DIRECTIONS:
- In a small resealable plastic bag, combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla. Push out extra air and seal the bag.
- Combine ice and salt in the large resealable plastic bag. Place the small bag inside the bigger bag and shake well, 5 to 10 minutes, until ice cream has hardened.
- Remove from bag and enjoy!
Delightful topic. For my favorite month of the year, after December, which is July, I choose strawberry and lemon ice cream. In the months of June, August and September I choose the cream and hazelnut one.
Chocolate ice cream is great. I eat it even when the weather is cold. Now, ice cream is very diverse and has unique flavors. They have different shapes. Everyone seem to like ice cream.
Indeed ice cream is very delicious and funny , and itis not cost ,in my country egypt the are many people love ice cream and for me i love chocolate ice cream and icecream with mango
I love it
l think like cohealett and kramel
I love icecream in a different ways , but I love icecream became form a supermarket it’s like a sandwich in inside it cream by vanilla and chocolate
I have right now a mango and pistachio ice cream in my freezer, and my favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla, chocolate, and red berry.
A short time ago we were making our ice cream at home and it was pretty delicious.
U can make it by putting in a plastic bag a fruit juice with sugar and tight it strongly and then leave it in the freezer till it becomes solid and then enjoy the delicious ice cream
people in my Country do not have a specific or papular type of ice cream but because everyone has own their flavor and type of ice cream
difitintly we have ice creem common in my country, and it is sweet and adorable flavors
It’s a cool topic for hot weather like now. I like fruit ice cream covered with chocolate. We don’t have specific ice cream in my country but we have a lot of kind of them.
In fact, I don’t like ice cream more. But after this program I think that I will like it .
Thanks a lot.
Currently, there are many types of ice cream that are popular in Vietnam, including ice cream cups, ice cream boxes, ice cream cones ….I also tried making my own ice cream at home with amazing results. I think I have good ice cream to eat and save a lot of money so I think it’s worth a try.
I love to eat ice cream, it’s so delicious, whatever its flavor
Hi – this the first time to write here and listening . Thanks
Answer for question is common flavour ice cream is strawberries and vanilla
i think at my country hi Street al najah is ice cream ( maka ) .
and i enjoy with you
In Vietnamese, we have simple ice cream treats made from banana.
It includes banana, peanut, flour and liquid from coconut meat. We are just mix of them. Then we put it into bags or pattern which we love and finally enjoy delicious flavor of them perfectly!
I don’t like ice- ream very much, but perhaps I prefer the ice cream with ice and fruit flavour, I don’t like creamy ice cream and I don’t like mango, strawberry and pistachio ice cream.
Last days I kindly start to love tofu flavour
Mochi ice cream is one of my favorite treats ever, but it is very expensive. Thanks for this topic, it’s so entertaining and I love getting cool facts about ice cream around the world
In my country, popular ice cream treats is ice cream cone, my favorite kind of ice cream is They made from waffle and ice cream with many different flavors. My favorite kind of ice cream is chocolate ice cream cone and I like enjoying ice cream in winter it won’t melt like it would in the summer, that’s make me enjoy ice cream slowly.
There are many kinds of ice cream in my country, Most of them are imported from another country, and the other is created by Vietnamese people.
I remember that, when I was young, I often eat banana ice cream make by my mother. It’s cool and very delicious, special when the weather is very hot, it help quenched my thirst.
Sometime, I have tried the other ice cream with many tastes of fruits. Awesome! And I’m very love eating ice cream!
The popular ice cream in my country is vanilla and tofi ice cream .
Caramel ice cream is quite popular in my country; it is not made of ice and is softer than traditional ice cream, and it comes in a variety of flavors and is sweeter than traditional ice cream. It is made from milk and eggs and is very delicious in my opinion; I have asked myself for recipes to make some of them and want to learn how to make them sometime soon.
My country is famous with many type of cream. In Ha Noi, Trang Tien is best seller. The tourist have been visiting Ha Noi, maybe they will buy this cream. Nowadays, i know the type of cream is called Tran Chau Duong Den which have many people eat with the price is suitable for consumers. In Viet Nam, there are many creams made from type bean such as green bean, peanut, black beans,… All of them are very good and delicious. And my favorite is eat coconut cream. It made from coconut. When i eat it, i feel cold, sweet and fatty of coconut. It’s so yummy. I recommend you should eat coconut cream. Eating cream is not only helps us beverages but also remember about childhoods. I remember that there is a type of cream is very good. I used to eat when i am a childhood. And now, i can’t find out smell it.
Hello ice cream.
The first taype of ice cream that is popular in my country is a chocklet ice cream. However, there is many kind of ice cream also popular in my country but less than chocklet such as fanila, srawpery, mango and sour ice cream.
For me I like tofy ice cream becaus i feel refreshed when i eat it, and it is sooo delicous
My childhood and rural children in Vietnam are associated street vendors’ green bean ice cream. On hot summer afternoons, I used to predict the ‘jingle’ of peddles’ bells. and rush out with the neighborhood kids to buy groceries. Enjoy an ice cream, it’s a great memory
I think gelato it’s similar to the common here , it’s called gelati . It’s thick, filling , sweet and hard to eat
I like the one in stores such as cheesecake , mocca , caramel
It’s just so delicious
I wish I can eat Mochi
The common ice cream I’m my country is a Arabian ice cream, it is a balls of ice cream with different flavors , it is delicious
I like ice cream flavors with a sour taste like berry, mango, lemon, and pineapple. I love ice cream made with fresh fruits. Besides, I also like matcha ice cream. I think matcha is a popular ice cream flavor in Vietnam and everyone in here like it. Sometimes I make ice cream at home for my family and my boyfriend. I’m veganism so I use cashew milk to replace dairy. You can try making ice cream with fresh durian. OMG, It’s so yummy. Best choice for a hot and hard day.
I remember when i was a child my family froze the berry juice in a small plastic bag this is my favorite ice cream even now
We all love ice cream
but i prefer coton candy it’s so delicious
I like Vanilla ice cream
In my country Saudi Arabia the most commonly flavour are vanilla
They put it with any other flavours
For example of flavour they eat with the vanilla ice cream togethe is chocolate or with strawberry or with mango
And actually I love it this flavours so much because it taist so diloches
I came medina , i eat içe cream yout country , it was nice
In fact, I love all the ice creams but more than, I love chocolate and Iranian Ice cream.
In my country every day an ice cream car comes everywhere and people gather for it to buy ice cream
ice cream is very nice
i’m a big fan of ice cream, especially ice cream cone.
My favorite ice cream is milk ice cream .some omani women .special kind of ice cream it is milk ice cream . it does not have cream only has milk , sugar and some flavors .
My favourite flavour of ice cream is mango
most ice crean common in saudi arabia is like a ball it made by milk and flavour and sugar its very delictious .
my favorite ice cream is vanilla and many flavors but most favorite is vanilla and tufy
I like a coconut ice cream
Thank you very much.. Actually, I enjoyed this topic. Maybe the reason I love ice cream. I eat it 2 to 3 times a week. I love it. I still remembered one time I eat it when I was a child 5 years my age. sometimes I can’t eat ice cream when I am sick. Generally, I love it I love
Many children, adults like to eat ice cream too much. This is their favorite food because they’re delicious and cool to eat. There are many kind of ice cream to choose such as coconut ice cream, durian ice cream, strawberry ice cream… My younger sister often make the avocado ice cream and banana ice cream for my kids. They are so happy while enjoy them together.
The most kind of ice cream in my country is soft ice cream made by machines
And the most kind I like is pistachios ice cream and recently I tried iced yoghurt is so light and healthy less sweetener
I would like a podcast about cheese making or protein powder making (whey)
thanks,
The ice cream favorite in my country is the normal ice cream with vanilla.
My favourite Ice cream is gelato
Salcedo ice cream.
In my country ice cream is named gelato, it’s very smooth and soft. There are a lot of type of gelato, made whit fruit as pistacho or with cream as nutella.My favorites are pistacho and dark chocolate. In the summer the italians, but perhaps in other country, loves replacing a meal with ice cream.
interesting
i love ice cream whatever flavors
I want ice-cream!
Today, in the largest Italian newspaper, there was a photo on the front page of President Joe Biden with television host Seth Meyers, after the interview in which he spoke about a truce in Gaza. In the photo you could see the president and the journalist both with a nice white ice cream cone in their hands to eat it. A few days ago on a cold winter day I was walking along an avenue, with trees on which there was not even a single leaf left. Looking up I saw arriving, from the opposite side of the avenue, a black mother with her little girl, both smiling and holding two green ice cream cones, I think pistachio. She was a beautiful picture of happiness, which I have not forgotten. I returned home in a good mood. I’ve never eaten ice cream in winter, but I thought it might not be a mistake if it can turn a gray winter day into a good day. Let’s hope Biden and Meyers’ white ice cream cone also brings good luck to Gaza.
Even today (01/March/2024) the major Italian newspaper (Corriere della Sera) after the massacre of starving civilians queuing for aid in Gaza, returned to Biden and ice cream, placing a cartoon by Giannelli on the front page, which presents Biden holding a huge ice cream that is melting, as unfortunately is the Gaza truce.