By Francisco Pescatori

Buenos Aires, Jun 3 (EFE).– Argentina went back to the “origin of taste” to show that its ice cream is the best in Latin America, and will now journey to the frozen treat’s mecca, Italy, to compete for the title of the world’s best ice cream.

The Argentine ice cream masters team of Ariel Segesser, Daniel Celentano and Erica Rodriguez won the 2nd Latin American Artisanal Ice Cream Competition, organized by the Argentine Association of Ice Cream and Novelty Manufacturers, on Tuesday night.

“I am very happy, most of all because we got rid of the pressure of trying to keep the Latin American cup in Argentina, its rightful place,” Segesser told Efe. “We are the standard of excellence in Latin America and it is good to prove it this way.”

“Now, a new phase begins, getting ready for the world competition, and we want to return from Italy with the World Cup,” the Argentine team’s leader said, adding that “The Origin of Taste” theme was the inspiration in the different stages of the competition.

To prevail, the Argentine team produced an ice cream confection with bread, which is “a basic and primary ingredient,” a frozen tart, a sculpture in chocolate and small ice cream cubes.

This year’s tournament featured a new challenge called the “Mystery Box,” in which participants found a new ingredient they had to use to create a new flavor.

Other contestants included Mexico and Chile – which won second and third place, respectively – Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil, and the competition provided an opportunity to introduce innovations, such as frozen snacks, frozen cones, chocolate sculptures and even a salty ice cream.

The association’s president, Alejandro Todeschi, told Efe that his group wanted “to go even further” and organize a Pan American competition that included the Central American countries.

“Argentina keeps its regional and continental leadership in ice cream making, and we only have to prove that on a global level, but we are close to it,” Maximiliano Maccarrone, an association member, said.

This year’s competition was declared a cultural interest event by the Buenos Aires council.

Ice cream consumption keeps growing in Argentina, according to Argentine Association of Ice Cream and Novelty Manufacturers figures, with an average of 6 kilograms (13 pounds) per capita eaten each year, and the frozen treat is no longer a seasonal product.

The newest trend in the business is the introduction of salty ice cream, which is being offered in small servings as a complement to some dishes in restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream parlors, spiked with vegetables, spices or herbs. EFE