Saturday, July 19, 2014

What Your Ice Cream Says About You

The third Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day.  For the year 2014, that third Sunday is July 20th. 

For millions and millions of people around the world, ice cream is THE favorite treat.  What used to be the three basics of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry have become what seems like millions of flavors.

And guess what (surprise surprise)—someone did a study of what your favorite flavor says about you.  And also guess what (again, surprise surprise)—I'm going to share that information with you along with some miscellaneous tidbits about ice cream trivia.

If your favorite is chocolate you're more likely to be dramatic, lively, charming, flirtatious, seductive and gullible.

If your favorite is vanilla you're more likely to be impulsive, easily suggestible and an idealist.

If your favorite is strawberry you're more likely to be tolerant, devoted and introverted.

If your favorite is chocolate chip you're more likely to be generous, competent and a go-getter.

If your favorite is chocolate chip cookie dough you're more likely to be ambitious, competitive and a visionary.

If your favorite is rocky road you're more likely to be aggressive, engaging and a good listener.

If your favorite is mint chocolate chip you're more likely to be argumentative, frugal and cautious.

If your favorite is pralines 'n cream you're more likely to be loving, supportive and prefer to avoid the spotlight.

If your favorite is jamoca you're more likely to be scrupulous, conscientious and a moral perfectionist.

If your favorite is rainbow sherbet you're more likely to be analytic, decisive and pessimistic.

Where did ice cream come from?
The true origins of ice cream are unknown, but early versions of iced treats date back to the second century B.C. to Alexander The Great who liked to top snow and ice with honey and nectar.

Ice cream used to be for the rich only.
In the early 1800s, before refrigeration became widely available, ice cream was very expensive.  Only the elite could afford such a luxury.  Today, the average American consumes 48 pints of ice cream a year. [hmmm…a pint is only 16 oz. and there's 52 weeks in a year, so that averages out at a little over 14 oz. a week which is only 2 oz. more than one can of Pepsi per week.  Doesn't seem like so much when you break it down that way. :) ]

Which city and state eats the most ice cream?
According to a survey, Washington D.C. is the most ice cream crazy place in America with its residents eating 85% more than the national average per person.  Rhode Island was in second place and Wisconsin was third.

What is the most popular ice cream flavor?
According to the International Ice Cream Association, vanilla is the most popular flavor at 29% with chocolate second with 9%.

Needless to say, there are lots of flavors not represented on this list of favorites.  I'm a long time chocolate fan, but I came across an ice cream a while back that just blew my mind…Godiva white chocolate raspberry swirl, which is something like a million calories per pint.  :)

So, there you have it.  My tribute to National Ice Cream Day.

4 comments:

Paul McDermott said...

My favourite (sitting in front of me as I write!) is available in the UK at ASDA (= Walmart in the US) ...

Peanut butter flavour (Mine's with pineapple chunks & whipped cream top - yum!)

Shawna Delacorte said...

Hi, Paul: The pineapple chunks and whipped cream were added by you? I initially misread what you wrote and thought the ice cream came as peanut butter with pineapple chucks already in it and I never heard of anyone selling that combination. :) Enjoy!

I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow and think I'll check the Godiva ice cream and see if I can find the white chocolate raspberry swirl.

Thanks for your comment.

Paul McDermott said...

Shawn, you really MUST visit Sweden, where every High Street in every town has dozens of mobile vendors with old-fashioned 'sit up and beg' delivery bicycles, offering a MINIMUM of 30+ different flavour ice creams!Denmark runs hem a close second, BTW! :)

Shawna Delacorte said...

Paul: I would love to visit Sweden, in fact all the Scandinavian countries. 30 flavors sounds like our Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors chain of ice cream stores.