If you were to interview a hundred people of various ages and ask, "What is one of America's favorite frozen treats," ice cream would undeniably be one of the top answers. Consumed in the amount of 1.6 billion gallons per year in the United States alone, ice cream is part of many American "food" traditions and enjoys a popularity that extends beyond our borders (The History of Ice Cream). In exploring the topic of ice cream, it doesn't take long to realize that it has a rich history, has remained the same and yet has certainly evolved over time thanks to advances in technology, and is often confused with other frozen treats such as ice cream . The history of ice cream is interesting; many might think that its origins are quite new (the last 100 years or so), but nothing could be further from the truth. While nothing from the past can be accurate, it is strongly speculated that frozen treats date back to 2 BC. There are accounts in the Bible that suggest that during the harvest season, King Solomon enjoyed frozen drinks. Furthermore, it was discovered that Alexander the Great even cooled himself with snow sweetened with honey or other sweet "syrups". Obviously these treats weren't what would be called "ice cream" today, they were more like granitas. However, even then, people experimented and enjoyed the combinations that can be made with snow/ice and sweet flavors. Chinese ruler King T'ang of Shang during the T'ang Dynasty is generally credited with creating the first true ice cream. . It consisted of ice, fermented/heated milk (koumiss), camphor, and flour. The common thread among these leaders is that they all had men on the ice and/or runners. These people's job was simply... half the paper... the ream typically contains 50% or more air after the churning process... while the ice cream contains less than 30% air (Ice Cream Nutrition Facts compared to ice cream). This lack of air is what gives ice cream its dense consistency. Although both of these delicacies are enjoyed all over the world, they are not the same. In general, ice cream is considered more of a European parfait, while ice cream is considered more of an American parfait. Ice cream must have something to offer both adults and children. Not only has it stood the test of time in its original state, but with advances in technology, ice cream has grown in ability to be used to make many new dessert creations and concoctions. I think it's safe to say that across the country, ice cream is one of America's favorite frozen treats... with so many flavors and varieties, why wouldn't it be??