Which dynasty began to use ice cubes, and how did the ancients make ice?

It's summer now, and the weather is extremely hot, which often makes people feel sultry and dizzy. If you drink two cold drinks at this time, you will feel very refreshed. Our current technology can make us spend the summer heat easily, including sprite, ice cream and yogurt, but without these advanced technologies, how did ancient people get ice cubes? Let's explain.

Don't underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. Since the Zhou Dynasty, there have been ways to store ice cubes. At that time, there were wells dug in the court, which were called ice wells at that time, and there were also people who were responsible for storing ice cubes. Before taking methamphetamine, a series of sacrificial activities should be carried out. In the coldest winter, choose a river closest to the ice well and start taking ice from it.

In order to prevent the ice from melting, the ancients usually built ice wells in extremely cool places, dug deep and spread thick straw on the ground. There are strict thermal insulation measures between each floor. After one ice well is filled, the next ice well will be loaded until all the ice wells are filled. In summer, those ancient nobles can use ice wine to cool off in hot weather.

But these ice cubes mentioned above can only be enjoyed by nobles. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder began to appear. It is found that saltpeter has other characteristics besides refining gunpowder, that is, it will absorb a lot of heat after being dissolved in water and eventually form ice cubes. At this time, there are also iced drinks in summer, which are our common rock sugar water.

Until the Song Dynasty, the food culture was extremely prosperous, and cold drinks became something that ordinary people could enjoy. At this time, there are not only fruit juices on the market, but also desserts that add various fruits with crushed ice.