logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2022
28m 30s

Ice cream flavors: From whale poo to van...

American Public Media
About this episode

Forever Ago kicks off the new season with everybody’s summer favorite: ice cream!

In this episode Joy and co-host Maeve explore the many flavors of this frozen treat. Historian Rosa Abreu tells us why classic vanilla is anything but boring. We’ll also check out some historical tastes of the past, including mace, orange blossom, and ambergris. That last one comes out of a whale’s intestine and was considered a delicacy.

We’ll learn about how ice cream was a symbol of the rich and powerful, long before everyone had a freezer in their kitchen. Join us for the scoop on what really goes into your sundae.

Submit what you want to include in the Forever Ago time capsule at foreverago.org/contact — we’ll be featuring many of the responses on the show!

Up next
Jun 10
Where did school uniforms come from?
Our world is filled with uniforms. From mail carriers, to sports teams to students! This week, Joy, cohost Hannah and Articles of Interest’s Avery Trufelman trace the history of school uniforms, from their start 800 years ago in England, to their popularization in America by immi ... Show More
32m 25s
Jun 11
A big update about Forever Ago and the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.In the mean ... Show More
2m 56s
Jun 4
Josephine Baker: Diva and WWII spy!
Joy and co-host Obasi are so obsessed with historical spycraft that they become top secret spies! Their mission, should they choose to accept it: investigate the life of superstar Josephine Baker.Josephine danced and sang on the biggest stages of Europe in 1920s and 30s — and fel ... Show More
31m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
The History of Ice Cream
Greg Jenner and his guests Dr Annie Gray and Richard Osman get the inside scoop on the history of this delicious dessert while packing in as many of their 'flavourite' ice cream puns as possible (final count: 15!). They savour the dubiously 'legendairy' origins of frozen cream di ... Show More
51m 38s
Jun 2022
Forever Ago: How ice cream flavors went from whale poo to vanilla
Hi Smash Boom Besties! We are hard at work on the new season of Smash Boom Best and we will be back with new debates SOON! But in the meantime we wanted to tell you about our other show Forever Ago - which returns this week for a brand new season! Forever Ago is hosted by Smash B ... Show More
30m 34s
Jul 2022
Who doesn’t love ice cream?
That’s just one of the questions we answer in this week’s episode, which also includes instructions on how to easily make your own ice cream at home! We’ll also tackle the why and how of melting ice cream and why some flavors tend to melt faster than others! Our expert in this ep ... Show More
26m 26s
Jun 2022
Ice cream: A cool history
There are almost as many ice cream origin stories as there are flavours, but where did the frozen treat really come from, and who invented it? Rajan Datar explores the dessert’s murky history, from the harvesting and flavouring of snow in China and the Middle East thousands of ye ... Show More
43m 48s
Mar 2021
248 - Ice Cream
This week we are talking about that most popular, sweet, freezing cold treat … ice cream! Find out about your hosts favourite flavours, the ice creams they enjoyed as kids and a recipe Jennifer uses to create ice cream with her son. Lots of ice cream vocabulary is included - you’ ... Show More
30m 36s
Jul 2015
The Scoop on Ice Cream
It’s one of the most complex food products you’ll ever consume: a thermodynamic miracle that contains all three states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—at the same time. And yet no birthday party, beach trip, or Fourth of July celebration is complete without a scoop or two. That’ ... Show More
47m 13s
Aug 2011
icecream
Robin Weir joins Jenni to make strawberry ice cream. He’ll also be discussing the different kinds of ice cream you can make at home and revealing some of the history of one of our favourite treats. 
11m 48s
Jul 2020
How Do You Make Ice Cream?
How is ice cream made? Why does ice cream melt? Why does some ice cream melt faster than others? We’ll answer your questions about this summery concoction with Rabia Kamara, of Ruby Scoops in Richmond, Virginia. It’s going to be sweet. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google S ... Show More
24m 50s
Jul 2021
The Joy Of Ice Cream's Texture
July is National Ice Cream Month — and Sunday, July 18 is National Ice Cream Day (in the US)! Flavors range from the classics — vanilla and chocolate — to the adventurous — jalapeño and cicada. But for some people, including ice cream scientist Dr. Maya Warren, flavor is only one ... Show More
14m 2s
Aug 2021
Gelato
In this episode, Bobby & Sophie break down all things gelato. They compare and contrast gelato to ice cream, discuss the best flavors, and of course, Bobby explains how to make a perfect sundae using his all-time favorite gelato.For more information on "Always Hungry" follow the ... Show More
30 m