The Midwestern City Affectionately Called The 'Frozen Custard Capital Of The World'

In the center of the country, far away from the hustle and bustle of big East Coast cities, the hot and humid south, and the eternally sunny West Coast lies America's Midwest, also known as America's heartland. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this area is comprised of 12 states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Visit the USA says that these states have historically been known for industry and agriculture and for having some of the nicest people in the country. Not a bad reputation. The Midwest has big cities, small towns, lots of college football, and some seriously good food — cheese curds, anyone?

The Midwest also has some very odd, and very real self-proclaimed titles for some of its cities. Take Washington, Missouri for example, which calls itself the "Corn Cob Capital of the World," or La Crosse, Kansas, which is the "Barbed Wire Capital of the World" (per Fodors). You may not be jumping on a plane to visit these states and experience such things, but the urge is probably a little stronger when you find out there is a "frozen custard capital" tucked away in the Midwest.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, so famous for its breweries that they named their professional baseball team after them, is a beautiful city located on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to Trip 101, it is known for its architecture, beautiful parks, and lake life. And we're thinking frozen custard should be added to this list. Milwaukeeans love their frozen custard so much that the city is now known as the "frozen custard capital of the world." The city proudly boasts the biggest number of frozen custard shops per capita, the oldest of which has been operating for over 80 years, according to Travel Wisconsin.

Frozen custard is like ice cream, in that it is made with milk, cream, and sugar, but frozen custard also includes egg yolks, resulting in a very thick, creamy texture, perfect for humid summer days and nippy winter ones, apparently. Surprisingly, the sweet confection did not originate in Wisconsin at all, but rather in Coney Island, New York. Travel Wisconsin says it was introduced to the Midwest region at the famous 1933 Chicago World's Fair, however, several producers in Wisconsin were already testing frozen custard recipes and selling the treat before it had become popular throughout the Midwest.

Frozen custard can be made into as many flavors as ice cream, just expect a denser and silkier texture. There are different brands and chains all over the country but you're most likely to stumble upon one in the friendly town of Milwaukee.