Ice cream float facts for kids
An ice-cream float
|
|
| Alternative names | Ice cream float, Coke float, root beer float, spider |
|---|---|
| Type | Beverage |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Created by | Robert McCay Green |
| Main ingredients | Ice cream; soft drink, or syrup and carbonated water |
An ice cream float is a super cool drink that mixes creamy ice cream with a fizzy soft drink. It's also known by other fun names like soda (in places like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada), coke float (especially in the UK), root beer float (popular in the US and Canada), or even spider (in Australia and New Zealand). Imagine a scoop of your favorite ice cream bubbling away in a glass of soda – that's an ice cream float!
Contents
The Sweet History of Floats
Have you ever wondered who first thought of putting ice cream in a soda? The story goes that the ice cream float was invented by a man named Robert McCay Green. This happened way back in 1874 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
How the Idea Was Born
Robert McCay Green was selling a popular drink made with carbonated water, syrup, and cream. One hot day, he ran out of ice for his drinks. He needed a way to keep his drinks cold and still make them special. He looked around and saw a nearby ice cream vendor. That's when he had a brilliant idea! Instead of ice, he decided to use a scoop of vanilla ice cream in his drinks.
An Instant Hit
People loved this new, creamy, fizzy drink! It was a huge success. Robert McCay Green's new creation quickly became famous. He even said that his first ice cream float was made with vanilla ice cream and a special "sweet cream soda." This simple change created a whole new type of delicious beverage that people still enjoy today.
Different Kinds of Ice Cream Floats
While the classic ice cream float is made with vanilla ice cream and root beer or cola, there are many other exciting ways to make them. You can use almost any soft drink and any flavor of ice cream!
Root Beer Floats
The root beer float is one of the most famous types. It usually has vanilla ice cream floating in root beer. The flavors mix perfectly, creating a creamy, frothy treat that many people love.
Cola Floats
Another popular choice is the cola float. This is made with cola (like Coca-Cola or Pepsi) and vanilla ice cream. The strong, sweet taste of cola goes really well with the smooth ice cream.
Fruit-Flavored Floats
You can also make floats with fruit-flavored sodas. For example, a "lime spider" (as they call it in Australia) uses lime-flavored soda and ice cream. Orange soda with vanilla ice cream makes a "creamsicle" like flavor. Some people even use ginger ale to make a "Boston Cooler," especially in Michigan.
Creative Combinations
The best part about ice cream floats is that you can be creative! Try different ice cream flavors like chocolate, strawberry, or even mint chocolate chip. Mix them with various sodas like lemon-lime soda, grape soda, or even sparkling water with a splash of fruit syrup. The possibilities are endless for making your own unique and tasty float!
Images for kids
-
A lime spider
-
A root beer float
-
A Boston cooler with Vernors ginger ale
-
A beer float
-
A Japanese style cream soda in Ueshima coffee shop
See also
In Spanish: Refresco de helado para niños
