Why a 99 isn’t 99p

We often get asked for a 99, but in fact, this iconic ice cream isn’t even called that on Moe’s menus. This is because we hope to avoid confusion about the a 99.

A “99” is whippy ice cream served in a single cone with a flake stuck in the top and it may or may not include a drizzle of tasty sauce. Many people believe that a 99 ice cream is called this because it once was served at a cost of 99p. However, this is not the case. One reason this myth is not believable is that in order to be served at 99p, just think of how many penny coins an ice cream trader would have to get changed at the bank each week! Another very good reason not to believe this myth is that the 99 rose to prominence in the 1920’s. And 99p back then would have been a huge sum of money to spend on just one ice cream!

It appears that there is not a definitive answer to how the 99 got its name. Both credible theories suggest that the likely reason is to do with the miniature Cadbury’s flake that is responsible for making this ice cream one of the most popular choices for almost a century.

There is some evidence from Cadbury’s archives which suggests that ice cream makers in County Durham introduced the 99 back in the late 1920’s, in a bid to increase sales of their ice cream. The ice cream industry back then was dominated by Italian ex-pats, and they began by cutting original Cadbury’s Flakes in half. Being known as the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate, trying to cut a flake in half can’t have been easy! Luckily for the ice cream traders, Cadbury’s began to produce a mini flake especially for the purpose soon after. The theory is that the Italian ice cream producers named this a 99 due to an elite Vatican Swiss Guard consisting of 99 soldiers. Anything particularly special or elite was known as “99” in recognition of this, so it must have seemed an appropriate name to give a delicious and special treat!

The other theory is less well reported, but suggests again that the name is to do with the Vatican Swiss Guard, which does indeed consist of 99 soldiers. However, this theory suggests that soldiers hold their weapons, known as halberds, at an angle which is mirrored by the flake in an ice cream!

What do you think?

“Whatever the answer, we can be thankful that this partnership came together, and almost a century after it’s creation, it’s still our nation’s favourite!”

How do you eat yours? Do you take the flake out and eat that first? Or use it as a kind of spoon at the start? Or perhaps you lick as much ice cream as possible around it so that it’s mostly flake left?!