Dippin’ Dots A&J 29th May 2022
You probably recognize these ice cream pellets
as the ice cream of the future.
They're Dippin’ Dots, a summertime staple.
But this confectionery treat
didn't start as, well, ice cream.
It started as cow feed.
Dippin’ Dots were invented in the 80s,
not by an ice cream brand but by a microbiologist.
Curtis Jones specialized in cryogenics.
In 1987, he was working for a bio-tech company
in Kentucky, trying to figure out how to make food
for farm animals more efficient.
His big breakthrough came when he flash-froze cattle feed
at 350 degrees below zero, which produced small pellets.
Curtis loved making ice cream.
Next thing he knew, he was using liquid nitrogen
to freeze ice cream at extremely low temperatures
and ended up with small beads of it.
When eaten, the natural heat of the mouth melted the beads
and thus, Dippin’ Dots was born.
A year later, he formed the company out of his parent's
garage in Illinois, but there was a problem.
Curtis had nowhere to sell the product.
Dippin’ Dots need to be stored at such a cold temperature
that it made it impossible for grocery stores
to house the tasty treat, so he got creative
and marketed his product to alternate locations.
Now, they're sold at amusement parks, festivals, zoos,
and other summertime destinations.
But whether or not they really are the ice cream
of the future, we'll just have to wait and see.