Mouth-watering and refreshing on the lazy days of summer, ice cream is a cool commodity for hot days when the temperature rises to record-breaking levels.
Though the origins of ice cream are not officially known, the sweet treat can be dated back as far as the early days of Rome when Emperor Nero (37 AD - 68 AD) allegedly ordered slaves to bring him ice from the mountains to mix with fruit, honey, nectar and pulp.
Another theory gives us Marco Polo, the famous merchant, trader and explorer who saw ice cream being made in China during his travels and brought the recipe back to Italy upon his return.
However these are tales that cannot be proven and this is not a history lesson.
The real question is this; what is it about ice cream that makes people so darn happy?
One of the best things about ice cream is the sheer pleasure one gets from eating it. Studies show that even just a spoonful of the stuff lights up the part of your brain (the orbitofrontal cortex) that recognizes pleasure- the same kind of pleasure one gets from winning an award or the lottery.
Ice cream brings back memories of childhood for some. Kids still run for the street when they hear the grating song ringing from the sometimes-crackly speakers of the ice cream trucks that still travel around the neighbourhood, a business that began circa 1923.
If you're looking for a place to quench that burning desire for the delicious cold treat, there are a few great places in Halton Hills to visit.
"We make our own ice cream," says Cathy Turner, who owns Get the Scoop on 71 Main Street with her husband Don. The Turners' offer about 30 toppings from which patrons can choose to mix with their ice cream.
This summer, they're throwing a few odd flavours into the mix.
"Watermelon, root beer, chocolate chili (spicy chocolate), cinnamon and cheesecake, which we always have," says Turner.
Sammy's Ice Cream on Edward Street in Georgetown has been open for 17 years. Between the months of May and September, Doug Turner serves customers from the cozy corner of Georgetown. The place was originally named after Turner's pooch, who was a fixture of the place when he first opened up.
Located at 188 Guelph Street in Georgetown, Dairy Queen has something for everyone.
"Our best sellers are Blizzards," says manager Ivy Hilts. With an array of flavours to choose from, including strawberry cheesecake, key lime pie, banana cream pie and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, the Blizzards are a big hit with the younger generation.
"It's been nuts here. As soon as the nice weather hit, it was like the middle of summer."
The Glen Oven Bakery on 53 Main Street in Glen Williams is another great spot to stop for a cone or a frozen yogurt.
"(We're busiest) at the height of the summer," says owner Jenny Dickinson. The cafŽ offers numerous flavours of ice cream as well as frozen yogurt and smoothies.
"Moose Tracks (a vanilla and chocolate fudge blend) is pretty popular," says Dickinson about the most sought-after flavour.
Allison's Farm Market,10626 Eighth Line in Georgetown, is open seasonally from June to October. Allison's is three-year-old James Macary's favourite place to stop for ice cream because, as his mother Helena explains "it is outside."
Laura Secord in the Georgetown Market Place is busy year-round, but Farrah McCoy, manager, says that the summer months are the busiest.
"We're still busy in the cold months because everyone's still in the mall," says McCoy, who has been at Laura Secord for four years.
It would appear that the favourite flavours overall for the older generation are the traditional flavours, like vanilla and pralines and cream. The younger generation is a bigger fan of the more "out there' flavours, like peanut-butter and Super Kid.
Every week, Laura Secord orders 10 tubs of ice cream- that works out to 55 scoops. McCoy says that on average, the shop goes through three tubs a week of Super Kid alone. If you do your math, that's around 165 scoops of Super Kid sold per week!
"Our peanut butter ice cream (is the favourite," says Turner. "We just can't keep it in the shop."
"It's always Super Kid (a blend of fruity flavours)," says McCoy. "Even the adults get Super Kid."
For those who don't have the opportunity to enjoy the age-old treat due to health constraints, have no fear. There are other options that are just as good.
"We have two (flavours for diabetics) in the summer," says Lyne Keable, owner of Ice Dream Art in Acton. "Cappuccino and pralines and cream."
Keable also offers soft-serve vanilla for people suffering from peanut allergies and sorbet for those who are lactose intolerant. Ice Dream Art is located at 340 Queen Street in Acton.
Dairy Queen has introduced sugar-free vanilla orange bars and fudge bars for those with diabetes who still want to enjoy a chilly treat. They are also working on a new initiative to bring in sugar-free Dilly Bars; soft-serve vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate.
Laura Secord provides a Brownie Fudge Brownie frozen yogurt that is low in sugar and the Glen Oven offers "staple" flavours in sugar-free format for those with diabetes, as well as frozen yogurt. Sammy's ice cream carries soft ice cream for people with peanut allergies.
"It's completely safe because it comes out of a machine, there's no contamination," says Turner. A "Frozen Paw" is also offered in three flavours: Oreo, Skor or Smarties are mixed with soft-serve ice cream.
Cyrus Bapooj and mother Mahrukh have lived in the Halton Region for about 23 years, and though Cyrus has visited Sammy's previously, it was Mahrukh's first trip.
"I had to get here," she says with a laugh.
"I like the slushie," says Cyrus. "I don't really have a favourite flavour (of ice cream)."
The old rule remains; everything in moderation. For instance, I wouldn't suggest curling up with an old movie, a spoon and a litre of Death by Chocolate on a lonely Saturday night, but when even science has proven that ice cream can put a smile on your face, who could pass up a scoop or two every once in a while?

Fun facts about ice cream

¥ The biggest ice cream sundae ever created was made in Edmonton, Alberta in 1988. It weighed more than 55,000 lbs. and was built by Palm Dairies LTD.
¥ 80 per cent of the world's vanilla bean used for ice cream is grown in Madagascar.
¥ July is National Ice Cream Month.
¥ During Prohibition in the 1920s, many breweries turned into ice cream factories.
¥ It takes about 50 licks to consume one scoop of ice cream.

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