Though some argue ice cream is solely for scorching hot summer days, I am a firm believer that it can (and should) be eaten at any point in the year. Though it is typically considered an American dessert, ice cream can actually be found all over the world. The form in which it is served in obviously can vary, but if one is like me and believes that everyone should have the right to purchase and eat ice cream at any time they want, I would think that this person should be open to sampling these variations. Ice cream can be offered in Japan, Italy, Israel and a number of other countries in an even larger number of flavors.

If you ever find yourself in Japan and desperate for a frozen delight, you should probably give Mochi ice cream a chance. Mochi is sticky rice that is pounded together, and is normally served as a cake. The Japanese add a twist to the traditional Mochi when they stuff it with ice cream and make it a different kind of sweet treat. Mochi ice cream has become so prominent that today, it is enjoyed in North American, Europe, and Africa as well as Japan. Popular flavors include red bean and green tea.

Italy’s gelato is shares similar characteristics with the ice cream that Americans typically consume. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that the Italians are quite proud of their gelato and are particular about its namesake. Commonly, gelato is denser than ice cream and has a significantly less amount of fat due to the fact that more milk is used during the creation process than cream. More than 5,000 modern gelato parlors exist in Italy, so if you ever visit here, it most certainly should not be hard to acquire some. The most beloved flavors are nocciola (hazlenut), and fragola (strawberry).

In Israel, Halva ice cream is not necessarily a variation of what we typically think of as ice cream, but it is a new kind of flavor that was originally from Tel Aviv, a city in Israel. Halva is sweet and comparable to candy; it is created by mashing sesame seeds into a paste made from sugar and honey. The taste of Halva has, interestingly enough, been compared to many popular American candy bars. Because of this, I like to think that Halva ice cream is definitely something that most of us would enjoy.

So, there you have it. Clearly, many countries around the world put an interesting spin on what most Americans would consider ice cream. Though there is still a ridiculous amount of recipes that I did not get the chance cover, I imagine that every variation of the frozen dessert is delicious to the typical ice cream lover. So, if you do ever find yourself hankering for a cold treat in a foreign nation, I certainly recommend satisfying your craving and experiencing something new in the process.