structural:summarization, structural:expansion
Europe

The technique of "freezing" was not known from any European sources prior to the 16th century. During the 16th century, authors made reference to the refrigerant effect that happened when salt was added to ice, causing it to freeze. However, it was not until the latter part of the 17th century that sorbets and ice creams were made using this process.

Ice cream's spread throughout Europe is sometimes attributed to Moorish traders, but more often Marco Polo. Though it is not mentioned in any of his writings, Polo is often credited with introducing sorbet -style desserts to Italy after learning of them during his travels to China. According to a legend, the Italian duchess Catherine de' Medici is said to have introduced flavoured sorbet ices to France when she brought some Italian chefs with her to France upon marrying the Duke of Orléans (Henry II of France) in 1533. But in fact, no Italian chefs were present in France during the Medici period, and it is known that ice cream already existed in France before Catherine de Medici was born. One hundred years later, Charles I of England was reportedly so impressed by the "frozen snow" that he offered his own ice cream maker a lifetime pension in return for keeping the formula secret, so that ice cream could be a royal prerogative. There is no evidence to support these legends.