Why Are Americans So Obsessed with Ice Cubes?

Not many countries boast a greater love of ice cubes than the United States. In today's video, I look at why that is.

[pistol]

"My wife and I recently got an ice making machine. Shut up it's great."
Americans: "He's beginning to believe."

[TheGreaterGrog]

You have to remember that most of the US is at the same latitudes as the Mediterranean without the benefit of a nearby sea. A substantial amount of the southern areas is at the same latitude as the North African coast. It's *hot*.

[cod-the-creator]

"my wife and I recently got an ice making machine" said with a British accent makes you sound like a time traveler from the 1800's

[rodafowa]

I worked as an asphalt and concrete laborer for about 7 years. The busiest season was the summer, in the heat and humidity. Nothing is more satisfying on a 95 degree day with 70% humidity than an ice cold water. I also love an ice cold Pepsi when I eat hot food.

[investingingeorgia]

Because here 80 fahrenheit is more like an overnight low, not a heatwave.

[Mars_doll]

It’s currently 101 degree Fahrenheit in Southern California. I definitely need my ice cube dispensing refrigerator lol

[iesika]

An additional historical/cultural factor: most folks got access to ice long before access to AC. My Granny’s Louisiana farm had no AC, so you can bet in the summer we were drinking constantly from what she called “nosepunchers” (glasses full to the brim with ice). So, to me, that will always be what’s refreshing.

[williamcaseywells]

I don’t know why I’m feeling this so strongly right now but I just want to thank you for having a channel that’s positive and shares honest observations about life in America and life in the UK that celebrates our differences without judgement (something I’ve been guilty of as an American who has spent significant time in England).

No politics. No division. Just wholesome reliable content.

[kimfleury]

My late Dad wrote about his childhood memories of eagerly awaiting the Ice Truck delivery on hot summer days in the 1940s. All 13 children sat on the porch to watch for the truck, and they stayed on their best behavior so they might be rewarded when the deliveryman arrived. They were helpful and polite to him when he brought the block of ice for the icebox, and as he returned to his truck, he would offer the children chips of ice flaked off one of the blocks. That was a huge treat for the kids.
I grew up spoiled with popsicles and other frozen treats every day in the summer, so it kind of sounded lame that Dad and his siblings got so excited over ice chips. But now that I'm old myself, I realize that I should take the time to appreciate what a treat an ice chip really is.

[TheLobsterCopter]

Water is one of the few drinks I actually like with ice, mostly because the ice doesn't water down the water...because it's already water.

[ST-ovcm]

1. It’s hot in the summer
2. Cold drinks, especially sodas, taste better colder

[TheShootist]

what I was taught in some obscure university class 50 years ago was that iced drinks was a sign of wealth in the old south. One cannot, after all, make Mint Julips without quantities of crushed ice.

[willstevenson]

What a strange question... Sincerely, an American Southerner.

[uncletoby-]

Nephew, I do hope that, like most Americans, you put your old refrigerator in the garage to keep fizzy drinks and lager cold for those occasions when you have guests over for an out of doors gathering in the garden.

[lisamills]

And it depends on the type, regular ice, pellet ice, crushed ice, and the best of all, Flaked ice. The crunchy munchy ice

[jamesmorgan]

I've never understood why people outside the US find wanting ice in cold beverages so weird. We like cold beverages to stay cold, and ice prevents them from gradually rising to room temperature. Seems sensible to me.

[skival]

I have never met anyone who wanted a smaller fridge!

[bernadettelawson]

I’m Scottish, I live in Scotland, and I love ice cold drinks, even in winter. Even our very nice drinking water is much better with ice

[naturalcambion]

My British relatives didn’t understand the fascination of ice until they realized it was ready made in our house. Couldn’t keep them away from it. 🤭

[catbriggs]

As a 16-year-old American with a group of fellow students in London, we were on a bus, moaning about the lack of ice. A British woman turned around and said with disgust, "You Americans are MAD about ice!"