Penny lick facts for kids

19th-century penny lick glasses

A penny lick was a special small glass used to serve ice cream. People used them in places like London, England, during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Imagine walking down a street! You might see a street vendor selling ice cream in these little glasses. You would pay just one penny for the ice cream. The glass had a thick bottom and a small dip on top where the ice cream sat. After you finished your treat, you would lick the glass clean and give it back to the vendor. They would then use it again for the next customer.

Why Were Penny Licks Used?

Penny licks were a simple way to sell ice cream quickly. They were cheap to make and easy for vendors to carry.

The Trick of the Glass

The glass itself was a bit tricky! It had a very thick base. This made the small amount of ice cream on top look like more than it actually was. Sometimes, customers felt a little disappointed when they realized how little ice cream they got.

Problems with Penny Licks

These glasses often had problems. Because they were used so much, they would sometimes break. Also, some people would take the glasses instead of returning them to the vendor.

Why Did Penny Licks Disappear?

Penny licks stopped being used because of worries about people getting sick.

Spreading Germs

In 1898, the city of London decided to ban penny licks. The main reason was that the glasses were often not washed well between customers. This meant that germs could easily spread from one person to another. People were worried about serious illnesses like cholera and tuberculosis.

The Rise of the Ice Cream Cone

Because of these hygiene concerns, people started looking for better ways to serve ice cream. In 1896, a man named Italo Marchiony in New York City came up with a new idea: a cup made of pastry! He even got a patent for it in 1903.

Soon after, the waffle ice cream cone became super popular. It was a much cleaner way to enjoy ice cream because you could eat the "cup" too! This new invention quickly took the place of the old penny lick glasses.