The History of Ice Pops
Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
by Jean Horst
Who doesn’t remember the childhood thrill of running into the house on a hot summer day, yanking open the freezer door and grabbing your favorite frozen treat to cool off?
Ice Pops are to summer what hot chocolate is to winter. Not just sweet and delicious, but also providing an essential need of the body. They are the front line of protection against heat stroke and dehydration. Not to mention providing children with a simple way to cool themselves off without needing adult help.
Fitting then, that the first ice pop was invented in 1905 by an 11 year old boy who left his canned drink outside with a stick in it (obviously on a very cold day). He returned to find his drink frozen solid on the stick, so he ate it anyway. Viola, ice pops were born! In 1923, he applied for and was granted a patent on the Epsicle, (a reference to his last name, Epperson). His children later renamed them Popsicles, leading to the generic name ice pops. Two years later he sold his idea which is now owned by the Good Humor company. Twin popsicles (which have 2 sticks) were invented during the great depression. The original sticks were made of birch wood.
Now ice pops come in all shapes, flavors, and sizes. The simplest ones are made in the common ice cube tray. The most elaborate have many layers of flavor and colors. But they are all still beloved by the young and young at heart the world over.
For more information and ideas for how to make your own ice pops, visit www.icepop.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)This article help me for my presentation in Speech class.
It is a very informative piece of work.But you should have included where it was invented. On the overall it is a nice piece of hard work.You're exactly right pearlyn, 11 year old Frank Epperson was in San Francisco when he left his cup outside....
I remember putting Koolaid in an ice tray and waiting until it was just starting to freeze and then putting toothpicks in the sections. I didn't care what it tasted like, as long as it was sweet. I did prefer red and green.Koolaid with toothpicks! The best kind. I grew up poor - we rarely had bought popsicles, so we had to be creative. You too, huh?I was so poor I couldn't pay attention.
Jean, this is so cool, get it? COOL!! hahahahhahaa, I thought this article was really good in the fact that again I learned something, would would have "thunk it"., I found it interesting, that was thought of along time ago, I didn't know it went that far back. But hey, they say your never to old to learn....hummmm, now I think I want one. Off to the fridge I go.....Thanks for sharing this tid bit of information.....Your fan, and friend in pen.....Gary.Thanks Gary! I'm waiting for summer just so I can have something cold and not shiver! :)
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