Kulfi vs Ice Cream: What’s The difference & Why you should try both

In the frozen dessert world, there are very few treats that enjoy the universal appeal that ice cream does. Creamy, chilly, and customizable to the max-Ice cream is pretty much a must-have in global freezers and dessert menus. But entering the world of frozen indulgences, kulfi classical South Asian dessert-has been delighting taste buds for centuries. They certainly bear a superficial resemblance but differ vastly in the manner of their preparation, taste, and cultural origin.

In this blog, we will journey through the ages and uncover the major differences between kulfi and ice cream, their respective popular flavors, and the reasons why your dessert list is never complete without tasting them both.

Origins & Cultural Background

A. The Story of Kulfi

Kulfi is known as "Indian ice cream" and it is actually older than many styles of modern ice cream by hundreds of years. This dessert came into being during the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent sometime during the 16th century. Basically, kulfi was made by boiling milk on a low flame for hours until its quantity was reduced to half, after which it was sweetened, flavored with spices such as cardamom or saffron, and frozen in metal molds put into a mixture of ice and salt.

Kulfi, unlike churned ice cream, is prepared by slowly cooking and naturally thickening the ingredients, thus endowing the dessert with its distinct dense and creamy texture. Kulfi was a royal dessert, enjoyed in royal courts and gradually spread throughout the region, becoming a street food favorite in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

B. The Rise of Ice Cream

The antecedents of ice cream are to be talked about in ancient China, in Persia, finally coming down to Europe, but the distinct varieties of hand crafted ice cream were realized mainly in European and Western societies. Commercially, it became popular in the U.S. during the eighteenth and ninety tenth centuries because of developments in refrigeration and churning. The incorporation of cream, eggs, and air during the churning gave ice cream its light and fluffy consistency.

Nowadays, ice cream has become an international market, from government warehouse super stores to the best artisan store with hundred flavor variations and hundreds of production methods.

Key Differences Between Kulfi and Ice Cream

The actual ancestors of ice cream lie in the ancient kingdoms of China and Persia and ultimately Europe however, the form of ice cream we identify today has largely developed in the West. Its commercial appeal gained momentum in the States in the 18th and 19th century with the help of refrigeration and churning advances. Since that period, cream, eggs, and air were mixed into ice cream during churning to make it light and fluffy.

Now, ice cream is a global phenomenon with hundreds of flavor options and production styles, reaching from supermarket tubs to artisan shop counters.

Where to Find Them in the USA

Ice cream is everywhere: supermarkets, little family ice cream stores, big ice cream chains, and pretty parlours. Whether in New York or in Los Angeles, getting a scoop of classic or rare ice cream is just a few steps away from your bus stop. You can also get ice cream from ice cream shops in edison.

Kulfi has traditionally always been hard to find, but thanks to the rising awareness of international cuisine, it has lately caught on. Some possible kulfi sources are:

Indian grocers (frozen section)

• South Asian restaurants or dessert parlors
• Food trucks and summer fairs in a variety of cities
• Online-dispatch services from ethnic cuisine outlets
• Fancy dessert shops in multicultural cities-to-be, York, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco

Now, thanks to traders, some prominent US-based brands go one step further by offering kulfi-style ice cream in which Indian flavours meet Western presentation, the best of both worlds.

Final Thoughts

They may share the common purpose of cooling, delighting, and satisfying, but differences truly herald the worth of exploring kulfi and ice cream. Kulfi lends an exotic side of tradition with richness and spices to your palate, whereas ice cream is light, creative without boundaries.

With all the culinary fusion and world flavours, why confine oneself to just one? The next time you have a sweet craving, let your palate travel: try a scoop of kulfi for the taste of tradition, and follow it with a swirl of ice cream for that touch of the modern scene. Who knows? You may have just stumbled upon a favourite from this newly born frozen world.