Popsicle is a sweet frozen treat. The word Popsicle is a trademark for a popular brand of the treat, which is more generally known as an ice pop. Ice pops are made mostly of water and are often fruit flavored. Some ice pops contain chocolate or milk, giving them a creamy texture. Popsicles and many other ice pops are made with a stick for holding. Ice pop-like treats are enjoyed in many different places under many different names.
No one knows when ice pops were first made. In 1295, the Italian trader Marco Polo returned to Europe from China and may have brought recipes for a frozen ice dessert. During the 1600’s, Europeans used a combination of ice, snow, and a mineral called saltpeter to freeze mixtures of cream, fruit, and spices.
The Popsicle was invented in 1905. An 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson left a mixture of water and powdered soda flavoring on his porch overnight. The mixture chilled, producing a frozen, sugary treat. Epperson called the treat the Epsicle, combining his name with the word icicle. The name later changed to Popsicle. In 1924, Epperson applied for a patent. A patent is a document granting an inventor exclusive rights to an invention for a limited time. The next year, Epperson sold the rights to the popsicle to the food distributor Joe Lowe Co. The popsicle became a major success during the Great Depression, a worldwide economic slump of the 1930’s. At that time, a five-cent version with two sticks enabled consumers to share an inexpensive treat.
A freeze pop is slightly different than a popsicle. It comes in a sealed tube, rather than on a stick. Most freeze pops are made with such ingredients as high-fructose corn syrup, juice from concentrate, and artificial flavors and sweeteners. There are also alternatives made with organic ingredients and without preservatives.
Ice treats are popular all over the world. People in the Philippines make an ice candy of fresh fruit and milk. In Italy, people enjoy a freezer pop with fruit juice marketed under the trade name Polaretti. The paleta is popular in Mexico. The paleta is an ice pop made with fresh fruit. It does not have as much added sugar as other ice pops. Ice pops are sold by street vendors and at such places as grocery stores, sporting events, and festivals or fairs. People can also make ice pops at home.
