Sweet Ice 1: The Icee
The Icee, also known as the Slurpee or Frozen Carbonated Beverage, was invented in 1958 by Omar Knedlik, a Kansas gas station owner. Knedlik's soda fountain machine broke down, and he didn't have enough cold drinks for his customers on a hot day. He put some bottles of soda in his freezer to chill them quickly, but they became slushy when he opened them. His customers loved the slushy texture, so Knedlik modified an air conditioner unit to freeze a mixture of soda water and syrup, creating the first Icee machine.
Knedlik soon began selling Icees at his gas station, and the concept caught on. In 1965, 7-Eleven began selling the drink under the name "Slurpee" in its convenience stores. The name "Slurpee" was inspired by the sound made when drinking the icy beverage through a straw.
Over the years, the Icee has evolved with new flavors and variations, including low-calorie and sugar-free options. In 2006, 7-Eleven celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Slurpee with a special birthday cake flavor.
Today, Icee is a popular frozen drink brand, sold in convenience stores and movie theaters across the United States and in many other countries. It remains a refreshing and popular choice for cooling off on a hot day.
Here is a recipe for making a homemade Icee:
Ingredients:
1 cup of ice cubes
1/2 cup of cold water
1/4 cup of your favorite fruit syrup or soda syrup (such as cherry, blue raspberry, or grape)
1/2 cup of club soda or lemon-lime soda
Instructions:
Put the ice cubes in a blender or food processor and crush them into small pieces.
Add the cold water and fruit or soda syrup to the blender.
Blend the mixture until the ice is completely crushed and the ingredients are well combined.
Pour the mixture into a tall glass.
Slowly pour the club soda or lemon-lime soda into the glass, stirring gently as you pour. This will create the characteristic frothy texture of an Icee.
Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Icee!
You can also experiment with different flavors and variations of this recipe to create your own unique Icee flavors.