They are vintage and certainly not outdated. Because their roots go deep into history and they remain just as distinctive and beloved. If you’ve ever tried the traditional Armenonville from Northern Greece, you’ll recognize it immediately. And if you’ve ever tasted the rich cream of an authentic kaymak ice cream—whether in a traditional workshop in our country or on the streets of Istanbul—consider yourself lucky to have traveled through centuries of tradition with just a spoonful of ice cream. But what ingredients make Armenonville and kaymak so delicious? What is their history and how are they produced?

Armenonville is something between semifreddo and parfait—the traditional ice cream of Northern Greece with a rich history. One of the most likely origins is that it was born in France during the 19th century and later traveled via sailors, becoming established in Northern Greece. Its characteristic preparation involves ready-made meringues (bezes) and caramelized almonds layered into the ice cream, giving it its distinctive flavor. It is usually topped with chocolate syrup, making it even more tempting. Today, beyond its traditional version, it is available in various modern variations and flavors.

Kaymak is a dairy product traditionally made from water buffalo milk that was slowly boiled for hours, resulting in a thick cream with a very rich flavor. When cooled, it was cut with a knife. Later, the Turks thought to add snow or ice to the cream, creating kaymak ice cream—or, in Turkish, kaymaklı dondurma. Some shops also colloquially refer to it as “dondurma,” but this is essentially a shortened version of the name, as “dondurma” means ice cream in Turkish. So, what is kaymak traditionally? An ice cream with a chewy texture, achieved by adding salepi (a necessary ingredient in its preparation), which is mixed with sugar and mastic. Today, it is very difficult to find authentic kaymak cream; most often, high-fat cream is used for its preparation.

Here are some favorite recipes to try:

• How to Make Traditional Armenonville at Home
  The iconic and unique frozen delicacy of Thessaloniki, which everyone who has tasted it knows, really deserves to be made at home—you’ll find it worth every bite!
• Armenonville Ice Cream Cake
  A retro frozen dessert—if you didn’t have a chance to enjoy it when it was featured in family gatherings in the 70s, one taste will make you fall in love. Serve it ideally after a meal of volovants with mushrooms and rüš (a type of pastry).
• Kaymak Ice Cream
  When the temperature rises, we crave something cool. For the more traditional, here’s a step-by-step video recipe for delicious kaymak ice cream.