The Women Who Churned History: A Celebration of Women and Ice Cream

The Women Who Churned History: A Celebration of Women and Ice Cream

At Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams, we celebrate flavors that transcend borders and stories that deserve to be savored. As a women-founded and women-owned brand, we take pride in honoring the remarkable contributions of women in ice cream history this International Women’s Month.

Women Who Made Ice Cream History

Nancy Johnson: The Woman Who Revolutionized Ice Cream
In 1843, Nancy Johnson patented the first hand-cranked ice cream freezer [1], transforming ice cream from a labor-intensive treat into a household delight. Her invention replaced the tedious old method of turning a bowl of ice cream mixture by hand in a bucket of ice.

Agnes Marshall: The Queen of Ices
Known as the “Queen of Ices,” Agnes Marshall transformed ice cream from a luxury to a Victorian household staple through her pioneering cookbooks and inventions. Agnes established a prestigious London cookery school in 1883, published her own magazine, and patented a revolutionary ice cream machine. Her 1888 cookbook introduced the first documented ice cream cone recipe, years before its popular “invention” at the 1904 World’s Fair. Perhaps most visionary was her 1901 proposal to use liquid nitrogen for freezing ice cream, a technique that wouldn’t become trendy until a century later. Through innovation and determination, Marshall forever changed how we enjoy frozen treats [2].

A Legacy That Inspires Us

The ice cream industry has been shaped by countless women—innovators, chefs, and entrepreneurs—who blended creativity, science, and passion to bring frozen delights to the world. At Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams, we honor their legacy by crafting flavors inspired by global traditions with a nod to history and innovation.

This International Women’s Month, indulge in a scoop with gratitude for the women who made it possible—one delicious batch at a time!

References

  1. Smithsonian Institution. Making Ice Cream: It’s 1927. National Museum of American History.
  2. Daley, B. (2024). Agnes Marshall: The woman who invented the ice cream cone. Europeana Foundation.