It's Ice 🍨 Cream Day

Today is the third Sunday in July which means that it's also National Ice Cream Day.

Not only that, but this celebration lands in the middle of National Ice Cream Month which technically means you can celebrate ice cream everything all month long. Across the U.S., top chains and local parlors will be offering freebies and discounts to celebrate today. 

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation 5219 which established July as National Ice Cream Month and designated the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day. He also called ice cream as a nutritious and wholesome treat. That works for us!

We celebrated early and often by enjoying ice cream at various NH ice cream shops during recent day trips. All of these places were family-owned business rather than franchise operations. Our favorite flavors include Moose Tracks, Coffee Mocha, Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Cup. But, we're always up to trying a regional or new-to-us flavor like the Kahlua fudge I enjoyed in the photo below.

Aaron’s Specialty Restaurant in Marlow, NH

Recipes for ice cream began appearing in England and America during the early 18th century. Quaker colonists brought ice recipes to the U.S, opening the first ice cream shops in NY and other cities during the colonial era. In 1851, a Quaker businessman, C. Jacob Fussel, built an ice cream house and opened the country's first commercial ice cream factory in York County, PA, creating the first commercially produced and distributed ice cream in the U.S. 

Oldest U.S. Ice Cream Shop

The oldest U.S. ice cream shop is Bassetts Ice Cream. Founded in 1861, the legendary parlor is located in Philadelphia's historic Reading Terminal Market, where it operates the market's only original merchant counter dating back to 1892. Its founder Lewis Dubois Bassett originally churned the frozen dairy using a mule-driven machine on his NJ farm.

Kellerhaus in the Weirs Beach area of Laconia, NH

U.S. Ice Cream Capital State

Le Mars, Iowa, is officially known as the "Ice Cream Capital of the World". The town produces more ice cream from a single location. Its home to the biggest ice cream factory in a single location, Wells Enterprises. This massive facility produces over 150 million gallons of ice cream annually. The campus features a public Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor.

Top U.S. Ice Cream

There's no single "official" #1 ice cream brand as rankings depend on the category and if you're looking at packaged pints, regional dairies or specialty shops. Also, best is subjective, and U.S. ice cream is often defined by retail sales, consumer search trends or awards. Top brands include Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's, Tillamook and Blue Bell.

Sawyers Dairy Bar, Gilford, NH

Country That Consumes Ice Cream Most

Globally, New Zealanders eat the most ice cream per person, consuming an average of some 28.4 liters (over 7.5 gallons) annually per capita. The U.S. is a close second with 20.8 liters per person each year, followed by Australia at 18 liters per capita.  Other top countries are Finland, Sweden and Canada. 

We met up with fellow blogger, Erika (BioArt Girl), at Sawyers

Unhealthiest Ice Cream

These are typically super-premium pints loaded with cream, sugar, and mix-ins. Options like Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter World or Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter have up to 1,200 calories, over 75g of fat, and 80g of sugar per pint.

Most Forgotten Ice Cream Flavor

Tutti frutti is considered as one of the most forgotten and lost old-school ice cream flavors. This colorful, fruit-studded treat was once a mid-century staple found in nearly every ice cream shop. It disappeared from major supermarket shelves due to the rising costs of the herbs used for its green candied specks. 

Puritan Backroom in Manchester, NH

Most Disliked Ice Cream Flavor

Surveys regularly rank Birthday Cake and Mint Chocolate Chip as the less liked flavors, largely due to their sweet frosting taste. In nationwide polls, Superman and Rum Raisin also frequently top the list of least-purchased options. 

Early U.S. Presidents Liked Ice Cream

Many U.S. presidents have famously loved ice cream. George Washington liked the dessert so much that he purchased ice cream pots and an ice cream maker for his home. Thomas Jefferson is credited with penning the first written ice cream recipe by an American. Abraham Lincoln famously served various flavors, like burnt almond, at his second inaugural ball.

Later Presidents Did Too

Gerald Ford enjoyed butter pecan as a go-to sweet treat during his time in office. Bill Clinton has made a few dietary changes, including going vegan, and now opts for raspberry sorbet. At a Pennsylvania campaign stop in 2006, George W. Bush had pralines and cream ice cream. For weeks afterwards, the flavor sold out at that ice cream shop. Barack Obama worked at an ice cream shop in his youth and enjoyed pretzels and ice cream.

Your Turn — will you enjoy ice cream today, if so, what's your favorite flavor?