Why Is A 99 Ice Cream Called A 99

Let’s be honest: there are few things in life as reliably joyful as the 99 Ice Cream. You know the one—a perfect, soft-serve swirl, topped with that cheeky little chocolate flake, sitting proudly in a cone. It’s the unofficial currency of British seaside holidays, summer fairs, and “I deserve a treat” afternoons. But have you ever stopped, mid-lick, and thought: Why on earth is it called a 99? It’s a question that has baffled the great British public for decades, right up there with “Why is the sky blue?” and “Where did my other sock go?”

The truth is, nobody knows for sure. It’s like the Loch Ness Monster of ice cream lore—everyone has a theory, but nobody has the hard evidence. You’ll hear a dozen different stories, each more charming than the last, and you’ll nod along, believing them all until you forget the first one. The most popular tale involves an Italian ice cream maker named Porta, who supposedly had a shop in the 1930s near the Palace of Versailles. He is said to have ordered 99 of his signature wafers from a local baker, and the name stuck. It’s a nice story, but as solid as a melted Mr. Whippy on a hot day.

The Royal Connection: Because Everything British is Royal

Another theory is positively regal—and who doesn’t love a bit of royal gossip? They say the name comes from the Guardian ice cream company in Glasgow, who named their flake after the 99th Lancer regiment. The story goes that the regiment’s members were so fond of the treat that the name just stuck. Imagine that: a bunch of cavalry soldiers, charging into battle but stopping for a quick ice cream break. “Hold your horses, lads, we need to finish these flakes first!”

Then there’s the price tag theory, which is hilariously straightforward. Maybe, just maybe, the ice cream cost 99p (or a shilling and sixpence, if you’re ancient) when it first launched. It’s the simplest explanation, like finding out that “thousand island dressing” isn’t made from actual islands. But then you remember inflation, and you realise that in 1930s Britain, 99p would have bought you a small house and a pet pony.

The Flake Factor: A Chocolate Conspiracy

Let’s talk about the real star of the show: the chocolate flake. That Cadbury’s Flake is a masterpiece of engineering—a crumbly, two-tone stick of joy that somehow survives being plunged into soft serve. Legend has it that the flake was originally designed to be a luxury add-on, a way to make a simple cone feel like a celebration. And it worked. The name “99” might have just been the factory code for that specific flake. Unit 99, you’re up. Imagine a chocolate tycoon shouting, “More flakes for the 99!” It’s so dull, so bureaucratic, it feels almost too real.

Why 99 ice creams are called 99s - and it's got nothing to do with the

Personally, I’ve conducted my own unscientific survey at the local beach kiosk. I asked the guy in the paper hat, who looked like he’d heard this question about 1,000 times. He shrugged, took a bite of his own 99, and said, “It’s just a name, innit? Like why is a windscreen wiper called that?” He wasn’t wrong. Sometimes things are named because they just are. Like why is a dog called a dog? Because it wasn’t called a cat.

But here’s the thing that makes this mystery so endearing: it doesn’t matter. We don’t need a definitive answer. The 99 is more than a number—it’s a feeling. It’s the taste of a sunny day that unexpectedly holds its warmth. It’s the sound of seagulls screaming for your leftovers. It’s the decision between a cone or a cup, knowing full well the cone is superior because of that last crunchy bit.

99 Flake - Wikipedia

So the next time you’re stood in a queue, watching the teenager behind the counter deftly spin a perfect swirl, pause the debate in your head. Just appreciate the beautiful absurdity of it all: a cold, creamy dessert with a name that nobody can explain, topped with a chocolate stick that looks like a weird flag. It’s a little bit silly, a little bit mysterious, and entirely perfect. And if anyone asks you why it’s called a 99, just look them in the eye, take a bite, and say, “Because 98 ice creams would just be a tease.”

They’ll nod. They’ll smile. And they’ll buy one themselves. That’s the magic.