If your sweet tooth isn’t quite as big as mine, you may not know that July 7 is World Chocolate Day. In addition to binging on all of your favorite desserts, what better way to celebrate than to go through a few inventions and innovations that have made our lives a little sweeter?
Have a seat, grab a brownie (or two) and check out the surprising, serendipitous and sweet history behind how some of your favorite treats came to be.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Were Invented by Mistake
Legend has it that the classic chocolate chip cookie actually came to be by accident. Kenneth and Ruth Graves Wakefield ran the Toll House Inn outside of Whitman, Massachusetts. Ruth was quite popular in the area due to the delicious desserts she would bake for the guests of the inn.
One night in 1938, Ruth wanted to make a batch of classic colonial cookies called chocolate butter drop cookies, but she realized she was out of baker’s chocolate. Instead, she decided to chop up a bar of semi-sweet chocolate and add it to the dough with the hope that the chocolate would melt and mix in with the dough as the cookies baked. She soon discovered that instead of melting completely, the chocolate softened slightly into warm, gooey chips, and the first chocolate chip cookie was born!
Ice Cream Cones Revolutionized Hands-Free Eating
At the turn of the century, table manners were everything. Every dish required silverware; someone living in the 1900s would probably shudder at our modern day finger food innovations. However, those innovations had to come from somewhere, and it’s rumored that we first began to stray from our stiff mealtime etiquette at the 1904 World’s Fair.
Ernest Hamwi, a concessions vendor from Syria, was said to have curled up a waffle cookie and sold it as a hands-free way to enjoy ice cream. Up until this point, ice cream was only enjoyed with a plate and spoon. Tourists ate it up – no pun intended. They loved how easy it was to enjoy a cold treat while they explored other Fair exhibitions. Next time you’re enjoying a chocolate dipped waffle cone, take a minute and be grateful that you’re not restricted to the spoon!
Soda Used to be Taken as Medicine
Long before the 12-pack was ever created, drugstores were serving up cold glasses of Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper as a way to cure many ailments. Of course, the names weren’t quite as catchy yet, but people still lined up to get their daily doses. In the 1700s, it was widely believed that carbonated water contained healing powers. As time progressed, various syrups and flavorings were developed to make the carbonated water taste better. People would ask their local pharmacist for a soda to cure headaches, indigestion, mood disorders, low energy and so much more.
Soon, people began to want to drink soda even when they weren’t suffering from an illness or ailment. It quickly shifted to the beverage industry instead of the medical industry and developed into the sweet drinks we have today!
Still Craving More?
If your hunger for innovation isn’t yet satisfied, leave us a comment about your favorite sweet treat! You can also check out the rest of the Source Direct Inc. blog.
If you’re feeling inspired and want to turn your invention ideas into reality, give us a call at 888-373-3876 to learn more about how we can help you.
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Libby Jourdan is the social media expert and writer for Source Direct Inc., an Invention Company based in Oldsmar, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips, comments or want to get started with an idea, feel free to email her at marketing2@thesourcedirect.net. If you absolutely dread using email, you can comment below!
