Ice Cream
Everyone loves ice cream. Or almost everyone, anyway! Did you know that in the USA National Ice Cream Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of July. It originated in 1984 as Ice Cream Month – 31 days to enjoy ice cream, how yummy!
Find out more about Ice Cream Day. Listen to the report and then read the audio script.
One of the yummiest holidays of the year must be National Ice Cream Day. It takes place in the USA on the third Sunday of July every year. It celebrates one of the world’s best-loved desserts. It started in 1984 when famous ice cream lover President Ronald Reagan announced July as the National Ice Cream Month. It was certainly a good month to choose, being in the middle of summer. But even in winter, ice cream still tastes delicious.
It’s fitting that the USA has a national day to celebrate their favourite sweet. Americans eat more ice cream than anyone else in the world. It is probably the national dessert, along with apple pie. On this day, people will have fun making homemade ice cream and having ice cream parties.
Makers say ice cream is nutritious and good for us. There is a lot of sugar and calories in it, but otherwise, it’s quite good for you. It’s made of milk and has other vitamins and minerals. Ice cream is different in many countries around the world. Italians are very proud of their gelato, while Indians believe their kulfi is the tastiest.
The history of ice cream is a little unclear. Historians say it arrived in Europe from China hundreds of years ago. The French and Italians designed flavoured milk ices, which made their way across the Atlantic. This is when it became known as “ice cream”. The first ice cream parlor in America opened in New York City in 1776. It is now a $3 billion industry in the USA alone.
Join Joe as he finds out how ice cream is made and why we all love this favourite frozen treat.
Do you like ice cream? Learn how to make some at home in less than a minute.
Listening – Would you like to work as an Ice Cream producer?
Listen to Jerry, an ice cream maker, and decide if these sentences are True or False.
1. Jerry has had his ice cream shop for five years.
2. Jerry made a lot of mistakes at first.
3. Jerry thinks you shouldn’t look at other people’s recipes.
4. Raspberry ice cream is very popular.
5. People don’t like new flavours.
6. Jerry sells lots of ice cream all year.
1. F – he started his business last year.
2. T – but he ate them!
3. F – you should look at their recipes to start with, but then try to improve them.
4. F – strawberry
5. F – they want to see what new flavours are like.
6. T – it doesn’t matter about the weather.
Presenter: Hi listeners! Welcome to another edition of the podcast, Our Favourite Foods. Today I’m
with Jerry at his ice cream shop in the seaside town of Whitesands. Jerry, when did you
start making ice cream?
Jerry: I started making ice cream last year. I was living in Cardiff and I had an office job there.
But I got bored and decided to try something new. I fell in love with ice cream and moved
here.
Presenter: That’s really interesting. Was it easy to learn how to make ice cream?
Jerry: No, it wasn’t easy. I made a lot of mistakes before I learned how to do it well. But I got
to eat my mistakes, so it wasn’t too bad!
Presenter: What’s the secret to making great ice cream?
Jerry: That’s a very good question. I think the best advice I can give is to research your recipe
carefully. Find out what other people have already done and then see if you can do it
better.
Presenter: What are you making right now?
Jerry: Today I’m making strawberry ice cream. People love this flavour. It sells out quickly.
Presenter: Do you have any ideas for new flavours?
Jerry: I’m probably going to try to make a seaweed flavour ice cream next.
Presenter: Really? Seaweed?
Jerry: Yes, sweet and salty flavours are very popular. And people usually want to try something
new, just to see what it’s like.
Presenter: I imagine that your busiest time is the summer. Is that true?
Jerry: Of course! If it’s a sunny day, people want to spend time outside, and they come to the
beach. But even on rainy days, or in the winter, business has been good. It’s always time
for ice-cream!
Presenter: That’s good to hear. Thanks for speaking to us. Before I go, can I try a scoop of that
strawberry ice cream? It looks delicious.
Now learn a tongue twister to practice your pronunciation. How fast can you say it?
