- [Voiceover] You probably recognize these ice cream pellets

as the ice cream of the future.

They're Dippin’ Dots, a summertime staple.

But this confectionery treat

didn't start as, well, ice cream.

It started as cow feed.

Dippin’ Dots were invented in the 80s,

not by an ice cream brand but by a microbiologist.

Curtis Jones specialized in cryogenics.

In 1987, he was working for a bio-tech company

in Kentucky, trying to figure out how to make food

for farm animals more efficient.

His big breakthrough came when he flash-froze cattle feed

at 350 degrees below zero, which produced small pellets.

Serendipitously, Curtis loved making ice cream.

Next thing he knew, he was using liquid nitrogen

to freeze ice cream at extremely low temperatures

and ended up with small beads of it.

When eaten, the natural heat of the mouth melted the beads

and thus, Dippin’ Dots was born.

A year later, he formed the company out of his parent's

garage in Illinois, but there was a problem.

Curtis had nowhere to sell the product.

Dippin’ Dots need to be stored at such a cold temperature

that it made it impossible for grocery stores

to house the tasty treat, so he got creative

and marketed his product to alternate locations.

Now, they're sold at amusement parks, festivals, zoos,

and other summertime destinations.

But whether or not they really are the ice cream

of the future, we'll just have to wait and see.