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There are almost as many ice cream origin stories as there are flavours, but where did the frozen treat really come from, and who invented it?

Rajan Datar explores the dessert’s murky history, from the harvesting and flavouring of snow in China and the Middle East thousands of years ago, to the experimental kitchens of the European aristocracy.

Ice cream’s evolution has, of course, closely followed that of refrigeration – we learn why salt was crucial for keeping early versions cold, and hear about the daring entrepreneur who began the global ice trade. Plus, who really invented the ice cream cone?

Producer: Simon Tulett

Contributors:

Robin Weir, author of ‘Ice Creams, Sorbets and Gelati: The Definitive Guide’;
Najmieh Batmanglij, Iranian-American chef and cookbook author;
Dr Melissa Calaresu, Cambridge University;
Farid Rostami, co-founder of Silk Road ice cream.

(Picture: A woman licking an ice cream. Credit: Getty images)

To find out how to make ice cream yourself visit www.bbc.co.uk/food/ice_cream