Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is frozen black currants with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as strawberries or peaches.
The meaning of the name “ice cream” varies from one country to another. Ice cream and gelato, based on cream and milk. Frozen yogurt, based on yogurt or kefir. Frozen custard, with eggs added to cream and sugar. Examples: frozen cola, frozen lemonade, frozen tea. Sherbet, like sorbet but with some milk added.
In some countries, such as the United States, “ice cream” applies only to a specific variety, and most governments regulate the commercial use of the various terms according to the relative quantities of the main ingredients, notably the amount of cream. Products that do not meet the criteria to be called ice cream are sometimes labelled “frozen dairy dessert” instead. Ice cream may be served in dishes, for eating with a spoon, or licked from edible wafer cones. The origins of frozen desserts are obscure although several accounts exist about their history.