Opening the Freezer of Memories
Shall we take a brief journey back to the memories of scorching summer days in our childhood? When the old freezer door at grandma’s house creaked open, it revealed a treasure that made our eyes sparkle with its coolness. It was the ‘Excellent’ ice cream, wrapped in a golden paper box.
Upon opening the box, we found two colors of ice cream lying side by side like jewels. In front of the calm blue and warm yellow packaging, we often found ourselves in our first serious dilemma: “What should I eat today?” If we had siblings, an invisible battle of wits would begin.
Even after decades, this sweet debate continues. Voices claiming, “The essence is blue!” clash with those insisting, “The rich yellow is the real deal!” What exactly is different about these two ice creams? To unravel this long-standing curiosity, let’s open the golden box filled with our memories together.
The First Story: The Identity of Two Vanillas
First, let me reveal the core of this long debate. Many may have sensed it vaguely, but the blue and yellow Excellent ice creams indeed have different flavors. Opening the blue packaging reveals pure ‘vanilla’ flavor, while the yellow packaging offers a deeper ‘French vanilla’ flavor waiting for us.
The Song of Blue: Classic Vanilla
The white ice cream inside the blue packaging is the most classic flavor that comes to mind when you think of ‘vanilla.’ A bite fills your mouth with a ‘fresh and clean’ sensation. The natural creaminess of milk harmonizes with the subtle vanilla aroma, creating a pure taste, much like a well-played symphony.
The Song of Yellow: French Vanilla
The sunny yellow packaging offers a flavor as vibrant and rich as its color. ‘French vanilla’ boasts a much ‘richer and deeper’ taste than classic vanilla. It features a heavy and creamy texture that envelops the tongue, with a sweetness that feels concentrated. Like a dessert for special occasions, it’s a flavor that naturally draws you in when you desire something a bit more luxurious.
| Feature | Blue Packaging (Vanilla) | Yellow Packaging (French Vanilla) |
|---|---|---|
| Official Name | Vanilla | French Vanilla |
| Core Flavor | Fresh, clean, and light taste | Rich, deep, and full flavor |
| Sweetness Level | Relatively mild sweetness | Relatively strong sweetness |
| Color | White ivory | Noticeably more yellow |
| Core Ingredient | Cream base | Custard base |
| Image in Memory | Reliable classic, essence of flavor | Luxury for special occasions, sophisticated taste |
The Second Story: The Secret of ‘French’
Why is ‘French vanilla’ called ‘French’? The key to this secret lies with our friend ’egg yolk.’
Traditionally, French vanilla is made from a base of ‘custard’ created by cooking milk and cream with ’egg yolks.’ In contrast, regular vanilla is made without egg yolks, using only cream and milk. This single ingredient, the ’egg yolk,’ was the magician that created all the differences in flavor, texture, and color.
- The Magic of Rich Flavor: The fats and lecithin in the egg yolk make the ice cream much smoother and heavier. This was the essence of the ‘rich and deep flavor’ we experienced in the yellow Excellent.
- The Magic of Color: The deeper yellow is not due to artificial coloring but rather the natural color of the egg yolks used in making the custard.
Ultimately, the ’luxurious’ feeling that the yellow Excellent gives is not just a matter of perception. It was a scientific result of the careful cooking process that included egg yolks.
The Third Story: The Birth of an Icon in 1988
The reason Excellent is so special to us is that it was born as an icon of the era leading up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In a time filled with dreams of leaping into the world, it was created with the goal of being ‘premium ice cream’ from the start, just like its name ‘Excellent.’
The proof of this is in the ‘price.’ In 1990, a box of Excellent cost a whopping 2,500 won! At that time, the minimum wage was about 690 won, meaning you had to work nearly four hours to enjoy this precious treat. While popsicles were 100 won, Excellent was truly a ‘symbol of wealth.’
Thus, Excellent was a special reward for doing well on tests and the best dessert served to esteemed guests. It wasn’t just expensive; it was a genuine ‘premium ice cream’ with a milk fat content of $14\%$ (generally, ice cream is classified as such when the fat content is over $6\%$!).
The Fourth Story: The Secret of Melting Quickly
Everyone who has tasted Excellent knows this fact! It ‘melts frighteningly quickly.’ If you take your eyes off it for a moment, it quickly becomes gooey and drips between your fingers.
However, this annoying characteristic hides the secret that proves Excellent’s quality. The reason Excellent melts quickly is due to its high fat content ($14\%$). A higher fat content lowers the freezing point, causing it to melt faster at room temperature. In contrast, cheaper ice creams use stabilizers to maintain their shape longer, but the depth of flavor suffers.
In other words, the fact that Excellent melts quickly is actually evidence of its high quality for the sake of rich flavor. It’s a ‘paradox of quality’ where you must endure a bit of inconvenience for the best taste. The thrill of having to eat it quickly before it melts has now become a delightful memory for all of us.
The Fifth Story: From Memories to Recipes
As time has passed, Excellent continues to evolve while staying by our side. Now, we have started using Excellent not just as a treat but as a ‘creative ingredient’ with infinite possibilities.
- Excellent Affogato: Just pour hot espresso over a piece of Excellent, and you have a dessert that rivals any café.
- Excellent in Snacks: The ‘snack sandwich’ made by placing Excellent between light snacks has gained immense popularity, earning praise that ’the person who created this combination deserves an award.’
The reason Excellent is still loved is due to its pure taste that pairs well with any ingredient. Like a clean canvas, it leaves room for us to paint new stories ourselves.
What Is Your Choice?
Now, we have uncovered all the secrets in the golden box. The choice between blue and yellow is a deep story that encompasses not just personal preference but also the science of cooking, pride of the era, and the paradox of quality.
The child who hesitated in front of the freezer in childhood has now grown into an adult who enjoys Excellent floating on coffee. Knowing all this, is your ‘favorite’ still blue, or is it yellow?
Perhaps today, you might want to reach for a color different from the one you usually choose. What memories does your ‘Excellent’ hold? Please share your own stories in the comments!