There was a time in Bangladesh when the arrival of an ice cream van with its cheerful jingles meant pure joy. Children would run out clutching coins, eager to get their hands on a simple kulfi or a colourful popsicle. Today ice cream is no longer a street-side treat. It’s an artisanal experience served in chic cafés, plated like gourmet desserts, and tailored to the Instagram generation.

It's one of the most complex food products you'll ever consume: a thermodynamic miracle that contains all three states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas — at the same time. And yet no birthday party, beach trip, or Fourth of July celebration is complete without a scoop or two.