The culture of frozen foods in early modern Malta

Abstract

This study explores the socio-cultural significance of frozen foods in early modern Malta, a region defined by a hot climate where natural ice was non-existent. By the seventeenth century, the Knights of St. John established a fragile yet vital supply chain importing Sicilian ice via specialized vessels, tartana della neve. Originally valued for its medical properties in treating fevers, ice transitioned into a symbol of aristocratic refinement and diplomatic hospitality. Unlike the "democratized" consumption seen in Naples, frozen delicacies like aggiazzata and sorbetti remained exclusive markers of status in Malta, reserved for the elite. Material culture, evidenced by the sophisticated equipment in the Inquisitor's Palace, underscores the ritualized display of power through frozen desserts. The research highlights how the culture of frozen foods illustrates the intersection of technological innovation, precarious logistics, and social stratification, where a perishable commodity became a powerful tool for expressing identity and authority on a scorching Mediterranean island.