ICE-CREAM AROUND THE WORLD

While ice cream is an iconic American summer treat, variations of it are enjoyed around the globe. From India’s Kulfi to Italy’s gelato, get a taste of the world's finest frozen delights.

 Gelato, Italy

Even if you’ve never been to Italy, you’ve likely seen gelato on your Instagram feed, or you most likely have someone who has visited gush over it. What makes this Italian frozen treat so particular is that it contains more milk and less cream than ice cream, and it’s whipped at a slower pace which lets in less air resulting in a denser texture. There are familiar flavors like such as vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio, but some oh so Italian like stracciatella and fior di latte.

Spaghettieis, Germany

The Germans have a pendant for ice cream that looks like spaghetti. Vanilla ice cream is pushed through a spaetzle press resulting in noodle shaped strands. These are then doused with strawberry sauce and topped with coconut, shredded almonds, or white chocolate shavings to represent then parmesan cheese.

Dondurma, Turkey

While this may look and perhaps even taste like typical ice cream, the texture is remarkably different. Dondurma contains mastic, a plant resin, and salep, an orchid tuber, which adds a chewy texture. Many places treat it as shawarma, using a butcher’s knife to cut slices. Those who don’t, though, often put on quite a show while serving it. 

Snow Ice, Taiwan

Taiwanese snow ice just might conjure nostalgia for the Sno-Cones you enjoyed from the Ice Cream man. This light and fluffy mound of shaved ice is topped with your choice of flavors, such as simple syrup, condensed milk, or mango, though evaporated milk and red bean toppings are popular as well. Nowadays, you can find plenty more options though such as matcha, strawberry, almond, taro, pudding, and more.

Rolled Ice Cream: Thailand

Rolled ice cream is also known as stir-fried ice cream. The mixture has a base of milk, cream, and sugar, plus whatever flavors are necessary. It’s “sauteed” on an ice pan then spread out so it hardens, then rolled up and served in a cup. The rolls are placed in a vertical position before being, if applicable, topped. Though it originated in Thailand, you can now find it all over the world.

Paleta, Mexico

Mexico’s contribution to the frozen dessert world is the paleta. While the natural fruit versions of this ice pop tend to be the most popular, there are also several milk-based flavors available as well.

Vermont: Ben and Jerry's

You can’t pass a ice-cream aisle without seeing this iconic American ice-cream brand staring you down, tempting you to try its latest concoction. It is the American ice dream -- two college grads, Ben and Jerry, open their first ice-cream shop in Burlington, VT, in 1978 and then take over the world ... one scoop of “Chunky Monkey” at a time.

France: Foie Gras Ice Cream

Leave it to the French to turn their ice cream into a delicacy. While the world continues to debate the cruelty of making foie gras -- overfattened duck liver -- we think everyone can be in agreement that ice cream doesn’t need to include over-the-top ingredients to taste gourmet. You had us at vanilla.

India: Kulfi

A mix of condensed milk, sugar and exotic flavors like saffron and cardamom, this popular Indian frozen dessert has a dense texture more similar to custard than ice cream. Traditionally, this cool treat was only found in India’s street markets, kept frozen in earthenware pots of ice and salt. Now its popularity is so widespread, you can find it in Whole Foods’ frozen-food aisles.