Click here to buy Ice Cream: A Global History (Reaktion Books).

Everyone loves ice cream. In fact, Ice Cream by Laura B. Weiss, is a treat for anyone who’s ever been beckoned by the siren song of the ice cream on a hot summer’s day.

You’ll be invited to embark upon a lively global journey to discover ice cream traditions and history around the world—from Tokyo to Tel Aviv.

It all began in ancient China where an ice cream-like substance—made with dragon’s eyeballs—dazzled  Chinese emperors.  We watch 17th century Italian and French chefs make exotic ice cream flavors like asparagus and the then-rare chocolate. Then, in the US, ice cream entrepreneurs created the ice cream soda, the soda fountain, the sundae, the cone, the Good Humor bar and other fabulous treats.  Together, they took the world by storm. Recognizing a universal symbol of pleasure and fun, Hollywood turned to soda fountains as frequent backdrops for movies and TV shows.

Ice Cream is a tale populated with Chinese emperors, English kings, former slaves, women inventors, shrewd entrepreneurs, Italian immigrant hokey-pokey ice cream vendors and a gourmand American First Ladies Lady.

Today, ice cream has morphed into a global dessert favorite. Italian gelaterias still make small batches of the delectable treat.  But these days, you can also find the Italian delicacy from Kansas City to Berlin. The Japanese love Western brands, but also concoct unique ice creams flavored green tea, sea urchin and wasabi. And the Chinese are fast becoming among the world’s most enthusiastic ice cream fans.

So take a trip to the world of ice cream! Click here to buy Ice Cream: A Global History (Reaktion Books).