Why We Love (Scream) For Ice Cream

First published in 1927, that iconic song that my uncle with a sweet tooth sings to me over and over called "Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream" has an element of truth to it. This article outlines around ten valid reasons as to why we love this fruity, sweet, sugary, and (even) savoury treat so much, whether in a cup or a cone (and even on a stick) - with or without toppings.

Then again this same uncle of mine (prior to moving into a nursing home) would eat 2-3 litres of the stuff daily. This is no exaggeration. He would buy that cheap stuff; either the vanilla or Neapolitan varieties, and gobble it up like it was going out of fashion.

Fast forward to 2020 (in the midst of a global pandemic), and BLACKPINK with Selena Gomez have also teamed up to sing a more modern I scream for ice cream version:

Furthermore, Olivia Rodrigo is found to enjoy a cup of ice cream in one of her current songs (yes, in 2021) called deja vu. Strawberry ice cream anyone?

As an aside, yet I am in awe (and ever so grateful) to watch TikTok videos ten hours a week through my work (yep, and getting paid to do so); and one of them was filmed in an ice cream store, with songs to match certain ice cream flavours. Two of Olivia's songs were featured to match the mood of the flavours seen. Strawberry ice cream? deja vu was played. KitKat ice cream? good 4 u was played. Then again, it comes as no surprise as to how many of us human beings are suckers for the icy stuff. Just Google the term Olivia Rodrigo ice cream, and you can tell that this artist (kindly representing the ice cream maniacs of this world) loves ice cream; especially if you click on the images.

One reason for loving ice cream is down. Yes, it can be a form of entertainment, and even better, you do not have to eat it in order to enjoy the benefits of such...unless you enjoy a scoop or two in great company. Ice cream is good at bringing us together. Still delicious in your own company as well.

Although I was hanging out with my foster mother; it was a big tease going out with her and this ice cream loving uncle together recently, as we hang out at a cafe for lunch, and he was sitting on his walker right in front of the cafes ice cream cart, not knowing it (the ice cream cart) was behind him! (This spot was the only accessible table we could find, and we were all starving from a whole day of appointments for his affairs). Then again, his face lit up with a hamburger and chips...another iconic food distraction! (He is no longer allowed to eat ice cream, as he needs to keep his weight down). My foster mother also said, the moment he discovered that ice cream was on the menu: "the nursing home will not allow us to take you out again" implying that if he orders a scoop of ice cream for dessert, he will never be allowed out again!

Moving on.

What are the other nine or so reasons, where we are able to, and we want to (scream) for ice cream?

There are times when we all need a bit of sweetness in life, and ice cream is a great craving charmer. If you are giving into sugar and ice cream cravings; you just go for it, and enjoy the treat. Yours truly has gone for healthier options like dark chocolate and pistachio ice cream as of late.

It is also common to associate ice cream with comfort, and with being a little kid every now and then. Adults are also entitled to play. Just let the inner child do it, and scream for some more ice cream. Growing up, if I was a good kid, I would be given some ice cream, whether on a stick or otherwise. The sounds of the Mr Whippy van circling around the neighbourhood brings up some nostalgic childhood memories.

Speaking of childhood memories, it is relevant to associate the consumption of ice cream in outdoor abodes like the beach, and with summertime. Ice cream also cools us down on a hot day, whether inside or outside.

Ice cream has come a long way from those plain vanilla days. Needless to say, vanilla is still a popular ice cream flavour, yet ice cream has come far, thanks to innovative appeals of more and more flavours becoming available for the ice cream connoisseur (or any foodie for that matter) to enjoy. Who would have known that one ice cream lover would have come up with 31 flavours of sweet, chilled paradise in a cup (or in a waffle cone or similar) for our benefit, whether good or otherwise. Additionally, some interesting ice cream flavours have made my palette sing, to the likes of kombucha and acai berry ice cream flavours.

Even better, you can go wild, and make your own ice cream, thanks to blast chillers and electronic ice cream makers for example. It is common for people to also make unexpected ice cream flavours like avocado, in the comfort of their own home.

Ice cream also has a fantastic home in other treats such as smoothies, banana splits, thick shakes, iced coffees, iced chocolates, and milkshakes to name. Add some vanilla ice cream to some milo bits, and stir it yourself, and (voila) you have just turned your ice cream into a milo flavoured one. The versatility of ice cream is profound and significant. Furthermore, there are ice cream treats that are vegan friendly, as well as being dairy free, in addition to some beautiful fruity sorbets packing some punch.

As an added aside, some people have, continue to, and may end up working with ice cream in the future. Therefore, working with ice cream is a good and handy income earner for some of us. The joy of working in an ice cream cart for a summer period, during the 14 months I worked for a chocolatier while recovering from burnout, in preparation for my new career in IT was something nice. I would not do it forever though. I loved customers faces lighting up and taking photos when they watched me scoop up their ice cream, and add some chocolate shavings with an edible logo token on top. Having to scoop out some rock hard ice cream out of the bottom of a five litre tub was no easy feat (like a gym like workout for my hands and arms); and it was fun to get paid to get messy for a bit, with ice cream all over my hands and arms (even with gloves on), until the novelty wore off. Carrying new five litre tubs from one location to another for a few minutes at a time was not easy either, as my cold hands would have given the north and south poles a good run for their money.

Needless to say, ice cream is a popular treat that is not destined to go away, even if we all become health nuts with zero vices.