The origins of frozen desserts can be traced way way back to 3000 B.C. when some Asian cultures discovered they could consume crushed ice and add things like fruits to improve the taste. The pharaohs of Egypt would offer icy fruit drinks to their esteemed guests. Italians jumped on board during Roman times by crafting desserts from the snow and glaciers on Etna and Vesuvius. From here the Italy solidified their claim to gelato during the Italian renaissance period. Although a famed artist named Bernardo Buontalenti is considered the inventor of gelato, it was actually a chicken farmer from Florence.