First up, the tale that makes me feel like I’m in a history book. The story goes back to Italy, to the late 19th century. There was this King, Umberto I, who visited a fancy ice cream shop. The shop owner wanted to honor the royal visit.
So, he created a special treat: a beautiful vanilla ice cream with a dark chocolate flake. He modeled the flake after the number “99,” because that was the number of the King’s personal guard. Dramatic, right? A whole battalion of soldiers, turned into a delicious snack.
But wait – did the King have 99 guards? Or was it the year, 1899? Some say the shop was at 99 on some street. See? It’s already getting messy. History is a liar, but a tasty one.
The Cadbury Confession: A Simpler Answer?
Okay, let’s be a little more modern. Cadbury, the chocolate gods, have their own take. They say the name comes from their own factory. Apparently, the original flake was created from a vat of leftover chocolate.
That vat? It was vat number 99. That’s it. No kings, no guards, just a lucky number on a metal container. Is that boring? Maybe. But it’s also weirdly believable. A happy accident, named after a bathtub.
Why is a 99 ice cream called a 99? | GoodtoKnow
Which do you prefer? The royal saga or the factory fluke? It’s like choosing between a thriller and a documentary. I’m leaning toward the King, because it feels more like a magic trick.
