THE HISTORY OF GELATO (AND GELATO CARTS)
THE HISTORY OF GELATO
and gelato carts
Those of you who have hired our the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Gelato Catering Services would be familiar with our super cute Gelato Carts. Meet Haley here!
Haley follows from a tradition of Gelato Carts, Ice Cream Carts, Ice Cream Stands, Ice Cream Vans and other food trucks that started way back in Italy in the 1930s. The first Gelato cart ever was invented in the city of Varese in Italy a few years before the start of World War II.
​
Gelato is something we associate with peace and happiness, love and friendship, innocence and natural beauty. Not a lot of people cared about Gelato during World War II and its immediate aftermath, but as the world became peaceful again, there was a revival of interest in the Italian Ice Cream.
​
But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Did you know that the history of Gelato begins not in Italy as you’d think, but in ancient China and Egypt? The Chinese and the Egyptians used to make a frozen dessert from snow and ice that was somewhat similar to Gelato as we know it today.
The Chinese Emperor would send his soldiers to the Himalayas where they used to collect snow from the mountaintops and bring it all the way back to the Royal Court. This was more than 3,000 years ago.
The Romans prepared a frozen treat similar to Gelato. Emperor Nero, who famously fiddled as Rome burned, was a big fan of Gelato.
​
The Arabs used to prepare something similar as well. They developed the Shrb, or the Sugar Syrup in the 11th century. This was the predecessor of the Sorbet – by the way Something Sweet Gelato has some of the best Sorbet in the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane!
​
That’s great, but that’s the ancient history of Gelato.
The modern history of Gelato begins much later, in Italy, during the Renaissance period. An alchemist by the name of Cosimo Ruggieri, who served in the court of the Medici, is believed to the person who invented the first Gelato flavor. Bernardo Buontalenti, a famous architect, invented the Egg Cream Gelato, called as the Gelato Alla Crema D’uovo.
Francesco Redi and Lorenzo Magalotti, two of the most famous singers of that era, made Gelato popular across Italy by singing about it and endorsing it in their shows. They were the first marketers of Gelato.
​
The first ever Gelato shop was started in Paris by a Sicilian called Francesco Procopio Cutò in 1686. It was called the Café Le Procope and it made Gelato available to the public outside of Italy for the very first time. Before that, Gelato was something served in the private residences of the rich and the powerful.
​
Filippo Baldini, a 19th century doctor, researched and wrote extensively about the health benefits of Gelato and Sorbet. His writings are valid even today. Click here for a detailed look on the health benefits of Gelato especially in comparison to ice cream.
​
But Gelato really became popular outside of Italy only in the last decade or so. These days you have Gelato Carts running all over the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. It is especially popular to have an ice cream cart at your wedding or engagement party. You didn’t have that 10 or 15 years ago, one or two, maybe, but not more than that.
Something Sweet Gelato is the best Gelato Cart Service in the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. We would be thrilled to be a part of your celebration. Whether you need an ice cream cart for a wedding, private function, school fete, corporate or promotional event. Whatever the occasion gelato always makes it more fun. Check out our Gelato Packages for the details on the pricing.
​
Click here to get in touch if you have any questions about our gelato or ice cream cart hire, we’d love to hear from you. Or if you would like to talk to us right now, call us at 0415 927 623 or send an email to events@somethingsweetgelato.com.au
We look forward to bringing you Something Sweet!
​
