September is National Blueberry Popsicle Month and a time to honor the creator of this tasty treat.
At age 11, Frank Epperson of Oakland, California, probably had no idea a simple mistake would make him an icon in the world of frozen treats. In 1905, Epperson accidentally left a glass of powdered soda and water with a mixing stick in it on his porch during a cold night. When he woke the next morning, he found his first creation of the ice pop. Blueberry to be exact. In 1923, Epperson patented the concept of ice pops. He initially called the treat “Epsicle” and later called it the “Popsicle.” A couple of years later, Epperson sold the rights to his invention the Joe Lowe Company in New York City.
Frank Epperson reportedly served the first ice pops at a fireman’s ball in Oakland, California. Since then, the Popsicle brand sells about two billion of their frozen treats a year. Though the most popular flavor is cherry. Blueberry popsicles have a few other variations to choose from besides the standard frozen ice pop. There is a Blueberry Greek Yogurt Popsicle and Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicle available too. If you prefer to make authentic ice pops, there are ice pop molds available for purchase. Martha Stewart is among those to have published recipes for blueberry pops.
In the heat of summer, National Freezer Pop Day brings the sweet chill of relief! On July 8th, grab one of America’s favorite ways to cool off with a frozen sweet treat.
Freezer pops have a long history – one that’s over 60 years old. And that history includes kids and summer fun. What’s better than getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family? Well, perhaps cooling off with a freezer full of freezer pops in every flavor of the rainbow.
Summer is one of the best times of the year. It’s important to keep the freezer or cooler stocked with freezer pops of all varieties and textures. There’s one for people of all ages! They make the summer even better and more memorable. And they’re shareable, too. Everyone has their favorite flavor, and you know which one it is by looking in the seemingly always near-empty freezer or cooler. From lazy summer days to busy sporting events, these portable treats please even the pickiest crowd.
NATIONAL FREEZER POP DAY HISTORY
The Jel Sert Co. founded National Freezer Pop Day in 2020 to celebrate the summer and being a kid with freezer pops. The Jel Sert Co. is the maker of Fla-Vor-Ice, Otter Pops, Pop Ice, Kool Pops, All Sport, and Wyler’s Authentic Italian Ice.
Stock your freezer with freezer pops. Enjoy your favorite flavor and include a friend or family member in the experience. Share your summer day with us by using #NationalFreezerPopDay on social media.
The last Thursday of June is reserved for enjoying a summertime favorite. It’s National Bomb Pop Day! Invented in 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri, Bomb Pops are also known as the red, white and blue Popsicle. Having one of these frozen treats is a terrific way to kick off the upcoming 4th of July celebrations in your community!
History
On July 30, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri, James S. Merritt and D.S. Abernethy created the Bomb Pop. Bomb Pop was given a trademark in 1971. Merritt Foods, owned by D.S. Abernethy, closed its doors in 1991, and Wells’ Dairy acquired the firm, along with Bomb Pops.
The Walt Disney Company and Wells’ Dairy agreed to jointly produce Buzz Lightyear Bomb Pops in 2003.
There have been several legal disputes between rivals selling similar-looking popsicles in 2014, but they were ultimately resolved.
Today….
The Bomb Pop is a frozen treat that Wells Enterprises now produces. Cherry, lime, and blue raspberry flavorings are present in the original flavor. There are nine primary Bomb Pop varieties as of 2015.[ Presently available varieties of Bomb Pop include Original, Fruit Bomb, Watermelon, Hawaiian Punch, Warheads, Jolly Rancher, Original Sugar Free, Banana Fudge, Lemonade, Tongue Splashers, and Nerds.
Here are some additional details that you may find interesting:
It is a popular treat for Independence Day celebrations in the United States.
The Bomb Pop is also known as the Firecracker Popsicle.
The name “Bomb Pop” was inspired by the Cold War, which was happening at the time the popsicle was invented.
May 27 calls for warm weather and sunshine so we can recognize National Grape Popsicle Day.
In San Francisco, California, in 1905, 11-yr-old Frank Epperson was outside on his porch, mixing water with a white powdered flavoring to make soda. Upon going inside, he left it there on the porch with the stirring stick still in it. That night the temperature reached a record low and the following morning, Frank discovered the drink had frozen to the stick.
Years later, in 1922, Epperson introduced his treat at a fireman’s ball where it was a huge success. Then in 1923, he made and sold his frozen treat-on-a-stick at an amusement park in Alameda, California. Epperson applied for a patent in 1924 for his frozen confectionery, which he called “Epsicle” ice pop. He then renamed it “Popsicle“.
Popsicles are one of summertime’s favorite treats for kids of all ages. National Grape Popsicle Day honors one of the most popular flavors!
I remember how much fun we had making our own, then enjoying them on a hot summer day. I hope to pass this fun summer treat on to my nieces and nephews. There’s nothing better than summer as a kid. We played outside, begged to run through the sprinklers, and enjoy picnics, barbeques, and popsicles.
Bitter cold January days call for nothing less than a long bath, candles lit, and cup after cup of hot tea to warm you up from the inside out. A hot, steamy cup of tea is perfect for any time of the day. Happy National Hot Tea Month, do yourself a favor and enjoy tea as much as you want this month!
We’ll break down for you what kinds of tea are good for your health at certain times of the day in just a minute. First, have you ever wondered where tea came from, and what made someone put leaves in hot water for flavor? Well, legend says in 2737 BC, a Chinese emperor was sitting under a tree while his servant boiled drinking water when some leaves blew into it. The emperor happened to be a renowned herbalist, and he decided to taste the infusion that had just been created by accident… He loved it, and that’s where tea comes from! Here are some of the best benefits tea has to offer:
Tea is packed with antioxidants. These help keep our bodies “young” and protect them from toxins.
It has less caffeine than coffee. (The kinds that do contain caffeine) usually contain about 50% less than coffee which means you can drink it without affecting your nervous system.
Research shows a correlation between tea and heart health. A recent study says people who drink tea have a 20% less chance of having a stroke or heart attack than those who don’t.
It can help with weight loss, especially when paired with a well-balanced diet and exercise. Tea is usually calorie-free, and it can give you energy and cause your body to burn more calories throughout the day.
It’s an immune system booster. Studies show that tea helps immune cells reach their targets more quickly.
HISTORY
The Tea Council of the USA was founded in 1950 and recognize National Hot Tea Month every January.
Sip some tea and post an aesthetically pleasing photo of it to social media using #NationalHotTeaMonth, #HotTeaMonth, or #TeaTime. The best part is, there’s a tea for literally any and every time of day! Some is packed with natural caffeine, other kinds are caffeine-free and created for you to drink at night to promote a deep, healthy night’s sleep. Let’s break down exactly what kind of tea to drink at what time of day for the healthiest results.
Early Morning: To start your day off right, try white tea first thing when you wake up. It’s gentle on a stomach that has been fasting (which we do when we sleep) and has a light, aromatic quality. For a big caffeine booster right away, choose a high quality white tea and boil with extremely hot water to bring out a lot of the caffeine.
Mid-Morning: Around 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning, move to a green tea. This will help give your metabolism a kick start, and it has a very light, uplifting, approachable flavor.
Lunch: Incorporate some tea with your lunch every day… Black tea is recommended at this time of day for a few reasons. It’s widely available, and easy to find if you’re out and about to grab a mid-day bite to eat. It’s also great paired with food, and you can choose your level of caffeine depending on how your energy levels are that day.
Post-Lunch: Pu-erh tea is a great choice for after lunch, because it only has a small amount of caffeine. Enough to help ward off that afternoon slump, but not so much that you’ll be up all night. It’s a perfect follow-up to a healthy, well-balanced lunch.
Evening: There are several great options for nighttime tea… Stay away from caffeine at this time of night, or you won’t get a restful night’s sleep. Some good teas to try that’ll calm you down and promote a good night’s sleep are Chamomile, Valerian Root, Lavender, Lemon Balm, and Passionflower. Give them a try, do a little experimenting and figure out which ones work best for you.
