Ice cream was first introduced to New Zealand on Jan. 27, 1866, when Wellington hotel owner James Osgood began selling it.
Early production relied on ice shipped from frozen lakes in New England, the US. The invention of mechanical refrigeration in the 1870s revolutionized production, paving the way for industrial-scale manufacturing in the 20th century.
In the US, which ranks second, per-capita consumption stands at 20.8 liters annually, with total production reaching about 3.3 billion liters.
Australia ranks third with 18 liters per person, while Finland places fourth at 14.3 liters despite its cold climate. Sweden follows in fifth place with 12 liters per capita.
