Why can't Americans live without iced drinks?

According to CNN, Paris, London, Rome, Athens, and virtually every other destination in Europe is experiencing a record-breaking heatwave. At these European destinations, American tourists typically sit down at a cafe and order a refreshing cold drink. However, that's not always easy.

Just as there are cultural differences between Americans and Europeans regarding the use of tap water versus bottled water, the issue of hot versus cold drinks is also a "hot topic" when American tourists visit Europe.

In recent summers, Americans have flocked to Europe and been confronted with drinks that have little to no ice.

With the rise of social media, historian Jonathan Rees argues that true cultural differences are "defined by history."

Rees, author of " Refrigeration Nation: A History of Ice, Appliances, and Enterprise in America," argues that the rest of the world doesn't care as much about iced drinks as America does.

However, sometimes this is entirely true. Tan, a Singaporean, grew up with differing views on refrigerators.

"In Asian culture, warm drinks are actually better for your health," she said.

Tan's years in New York (USA) had made him accustomed to cold drinks.

"I definitely prefer iced drinks. Even in winter, I still drink iced coffee... iced drinks all year round," she said.

Meanwhile, Claire Dinhut, who lives in England, has a different perspective.

"Personally, I really don't like ice, I don't even like the taste of water," said Claire Dinhut.

Dinhut has American and French blood, but even though she lived in Los Angeles as a child, she never quite grasped the American ideal of a cold, detached love.

She has lived in Athens, Prague, and now England, and feels fortunate that living in Europe helps her avoid large ice cubes in her drinks.

"I find that ice dilutes the overall flavor of the drink and is often a way for bars to mask the actual amount of drink in the glass," Dinhut said.

The difference in ice-using habits between Europe and America has attracted much attention in recent years, but it's not a new phenomenon.

Rees said the American habit of seeking iced drinks while traveling dates back more than 100 years. Since the 19th century, American travelers to Europe would often ask restaurants for ice and would be embarrassed if none were available.

Obsessed with ice

So why have Americans become so obsessed with rock music?

Rees suggests that Americans' love of ice may have originated with Frederick Tudor, a 19th-century Boston businessman who made so much money selling ice that he was nicknamed "The Ice King."

However, Tudor wasn't the first in the world to put ice in cocktails. According to Amy Brady, author of the book Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks – A Cool History of a Hot Commodity, nobody really knows who first came up with the idea of adding ice to drinks.

On the other hand, people living in hot climates often have a habit of seeking ways to cool down. In the 20th century, ice became an indispensable part of American drinks.

"Marketing campaigns talk about ice as if they're talking about cars or TVs. Owning an ice maker sometimes shows you're a middle-class American. Or, in other words, a financially successful person," Brady said.

In Europe, ice has never been as popular. While Americans enjoy ice, Europeans generally consider it unnecessary.

Ice expert Rees explains that it's true that "when you put ice in a drink, it dilutes it." But for Americans, ice is as familiar as flavor.

Americans have loved iced drinks for a very long time, so we're willing to make that sacrifice. They're willing to pay extra to have their drinks diluted in special ways.

As an American who loves ice, Rees is fascinated by "the little crackling sound in iced drinks, as well as the clinking sound when the ice hits the sides of the glass."

"I don't know why, but that made me very happy," he said.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/ly-do-nguoi-my-khong-the-thieu-do-uong-co-da-156941.html