The retro varieties of ice cream: How are Armenonville and Kaymak made

These treats are vintage, yet timeless, deeply rooted in history while remaining loved and distinctive. If you’ve experienced the traditional Armenonville from Northern Greece, its uniqueness will be familiar to you. And if you’ve savored the luxurious creaminess of authentic kaymak ice cream—be it from a workshop in our homeland or a street vendor in Istanbul—you can consider yourself fortunate to have sampled centuries of culinary tradition in just one spoonful. But what makes Armenonville and kaymak so delectable? What stories do they hold, and how are they crafted?

Armenonville straddles the line between semifreddo and parfait, representing a traditional ice cream from Northern Greece with a rich legacy. Believed to have originated in France during the 19th century, it made its way to Northern Greece through sailors. Its distinctive preparation features ready-made meringues and caramelized almonds incorporated into the ice cream, delivering a unique flavor. Typically, it is topped with chocolate syrup for an extra indulgence. Today, while the classic version remains popular, numerous modern variations and flavors have emerged.

Kaymak is a dairy product traditionally crafted from water buffalo milk, which is slowly boiled for several hours, yielding a thick, flavorful cream. Once cooled, it is sliced with a knife. The Turks innovated this by adding snow or ice to create kaymak ice cream—or “kaymaklı dondurma” in Turkish. Some shops refer to it simply as “dondurma,” which means ice cream, but it’s essentially a shorthand. Traditionally, kaymak is a chewy ice cream achieved by incorporating salepi—a crucial ingredient—mixed with sugar and mastic. Authentic kaymak cream has become rare, with most preparations relying on high-fat cream instead.

Here are some favorite recipes to explore:

• How to Prepare Traditional Armenonville at Home
  This iconic frozen delicacy from Thessaloniki deserves to be recreated at home—each bite is guaranteed to be worthwhile!
• Armenonville Ice Cream Cake
  A nostalgic frozen dessert—if you missed out on this treat at family gatherings in the 70s, one taste will surely enchant you. Best served after a meal featuring volovants with mushrooms and rüš (a type of pastry).
• Kaymak Ice Cream
  On warm days, a refreshing treat is essential. If you prefer the traditional version, here’s a step-by-step video recipe for scrumptious kaymak ice cream.