Oyster ice cream facts for kids

Oyster ice cream is a special kind of ice cream that tastes savory, not sweet. It's made using oysters, which are a type of shellfish. This unusual flavor was first mentioned in a cookbook way back in the 1800s. After being mostly forgotten for a long time, it has recently started appearing again at different oyster festivals in the 21st century.

The History of Oyster Ice Cream

The only old recipe for oyster ice cream comes from a cookbook called The Virginia Housewife. This book was written by Mary Randolph and published in 1824. The recipe for "Oyster Cream" was quite simple. It said to make a rich oyster soup, strain out the oysters, and then freeze the liquid.

Making Oyster Soup in the 1800s

The cookbook also gave directions for the oyster soup itself. To make it, you would wash and drain two quarts of oysters. Then, you'd cook them with three quarts of water, chopped onions, slices of ham, pepper, and salt. This mixture would boil until half the liquid was gone.

After that, the soup was strained through a sieve. The liquid was put back into the pot with fresh oysters. It would boil again until the oysters were cooked. Finally, the soup was thickened with flour, rich cream, and the yolks of six eggs. It was important to make sure the soup didn't curdle or have lumps of flour.

Common Myths About Oyster Ice Cream

You might hear some interesting stories about oyster ice cream, but many of them are not true. For example, it was not served at the First Thanksgiving. It was also not a favorite food of George Washington. And it was not served in the White House by Dolley Madison. Also, the famous writer Mark Twain did not mention it in his book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. These are just fun stories that have spread over time.

Oyster Ice Cream Today

In the 21st century, oyster ice cream has made a comeback! Chef José Andrés explains that today, it's often made by gently heating oysters and cream together. Then, this mixture is frozen.

Food historian Robert Brantley says that the oyster ice cream from the 1800s was basically like a frozen oyster chowder. It was served without any sugar, so it was definitely a savory dish.

Taste and Reactions

Oyster ice cream has a savory taste, which means it's salty or umami, not sweet like most ice creams. People have very different reactions to it. Lorraine Eaton, a writer for The Virginian-Pilot, shared that one of her co-workers almost got sick after trying her homemade oyster ice cream. However, other people have actually enjoyed the unique flavor!

Where to Find It

This special ice cream has been featured at different events. For example, two types of oyster ice cream were offered at the Colchester Oyster Festival in Colchester, Essex, in September 2012. An "oyster-and-ginger" ice cream was also served at the 23rd Oyster Festival in Arcata Main Street in June 2013.