Dippin' Dots are a popular concession item found at almost any movie theater, amusement park, outdoor concert, or festival. Enjoy these refreshing ice cream delicacies in the middle of the summer's heat. Learn chilling information with "7 Things You Didn't Know About Dippin' Dots."
Microbiologist Created Them
Ancient kings enjoyed desserts flavored with ice and snow from the mountains as early as 200 B.C., making this the first known reference to ice cream. Ice cream was a luxury item for the wealthy before the 1800s.
Dippin' Dot's creator, Curt Jones, didn't experiment with the concept until 1988. Beginning in his parent's garage, Dippin' Dots founder Curt worked as a scientist researching ways to quick-freeze yogurt bacteria for use in cattle feed. Working with it inspired him to try it out in ice cream, and a year later, Dippin' Dots were created.
Dots That Have Been Freeze-Dried
In the same way that Fry from "Futurama" and Walt Disney's brain are cryogenically preserved, so are your Dippin' Dots. According to the official Dippin' Dots website, Curt Jones' "understanding of cryogenic technology" is responsible for the production method used to create our favorite candy. The ice cream mixture is encased in a liquid nitrogen cool tank at a temperature of 320 below zero. The tank's temperature is so low that the ice cream mixture instantly freezes into little droplets.
Why Your Grocer Doesn't Have Them
Images of our favorite ice cream snacks decorate the dark blue packaging, promoting new and improved tastes. Why aren't they sold in supermarkets like other frozen treats? These dots need to be frozen solid to maintain their current form.
It was freezing, man—about 40 degrees below zero Celsius. At -40 degrees Fahrenheit, your tears would freeze instantly upon contact with your face, leaving a thin film of ice over your eyes. Ice crystals would strain the interior of your lungs, making breathing painful.
The Company Requested Bankruptcy
To avoid foreclosure on more than $11 million in loans, the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream of the Future" filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection in 2011. Company officials said that their inability to come to terms with secured lender Regions Financial led to their filing for bankruptcy. That's right; Dippin' Dots owes Region around $10 million.
Now hold on a second! More debt has accumulated. Additionally, the corporation owed $12 million to Peoples Bank in Marion, Illinois, and Quimby Rubber Stamps Shoppe in Paducah, Kentucky. What would we do if Dippin' Dots stopped being produced, but Curt Jones reassured the public that they would?
Connect The Dots And Do Good Deeds
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, benefited from the earnings of the Celebrity Grand Slam Paddle Jam table tennis competition held in Hollywood and sponsored by Dippin' Dots.
This event took place in 2007 and was a huge table tennis competition featuring famous people. Celebrities like Channing Tatum, Brittany Snow, and Gunnar Peterson competed for the grand prize of a trip for two to the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving in Phoenix, Arizona, for a two-day, a year's subscription to DIRECTV, a $200 gift certificate to Bin 8945
Take The Dippin' Dots Character Test
Do you ever find yourself at a loss over which Dippin' Dots flavor to indulge in first? Have you ever been overwhelmed by the sheer variety of options available? Oh, have no apprehension! Trying anything new may be an intimidating and challenging process. Fortunately, the creative minds at Dippin' Dots came up with a brilliant solution: a personality questionnaire to help you choose which flavor best suits your unique character.
This quick and entertaining seven-question test will have you thinking about scenarios like running into your crush at the mall, being trapped in a game of dodgeball, and having your phone die in the middle of a crucial text message.
They Sued a Competitor but Failed.
Dippin' Dots isn't the only firm that saw potential in the circular ice cream market, even though they may be the "ice cream of the future." As a matter of fact, due to the ease with which Dippin' Dots are manufactured, other firms have introduced nearly identical offerings. In 1996, the case climaxed when Dippin' Dots sued a rival for patent infringement.
The story gets even better: the brothers behind Mini Melts used to work for Dippin' Dots! The brothers used to be distributors for Dippin' Dots, so you can imagine how upset the corporation must have been when they left to establish their own more cutting-edge dots business. It was like, "you may duplicate my assignment but don't make it apparent."
