Frozen “Yogurt” Got Its Name From A Misunderstanding

Getty

Double or single scoop? Cone or cup? However you take it, all frozen desserts have one thing in common. Nothing tastes better on a summer afternoon than an ice-cold, sweet treat, and one of the most popular is frozen yogurt.

Where does frozen yogurt get its name?

Frozen yogurt is fairly new to the world of sweets. It was introduced in the 1970s under the name Frogurt, and in the 1980s sales skyrocketed.

The word yogurt, however, dates back to 1625. It is a mispronunciation of the Turkish word yogurt, in which the G is pronounced with a soft sound, as in general or gym. The root yog means to “to condense.”

So what about our other favorite summertime treats?

Where does sherbet come from?

Sherbet, which comes from the Turkish word serbet and the Persian and Arabic word sharbat, contains water, sugar, flavorings, and cream. It is sometimes also flavored with wine or liquor.

In Turkey, serbet is believed to be medicinal. Pharmacists and doctors of the Ottoman Palace supervised the serbet spices and fruit that were grown in the palace garden. It is still served following circumcision and childbirth. This traditional cold drink is made with rose hips, cornelian cherries, rose, or licorice and a variety of spices.

In the United Kingdom, sherbet is a fruit-flavored fizzy powder added to beverages. The word is also used in the UK (and Australia) as slang for an alcoholic drink. For example: meet me at the pub for a few sherbets.

What frozen treats are called around the world

Frozen desserts are served all over the world. Ais kacang, which is made from shaved ice, syrup, and boiled red beans and topped with evaporated milk, is served in Malaysia and Singapore. The Filipino dessert halo-halo is also made with shaved ice, milk, and boiled sweet beans. Kulfi is served in South Asia, and gelato is served in Italy.

What’s your favorite melt-in-your-mouth treat? And how do you think it got its name?

Previous Hybrid Animal Names: Zedonks, Ligers, Beefalos, And More Next What Does “Speaking In Tongues” Mean?