Before air conditioning, America shipped lake ice as far as Kolkata; up to two-thirds melted en route, and the rest could cost 10 times more than beef

Frederic Tudor embarked on an unprecedented journey by transporting ice from the ponds of New England to the sweltering climate of Calcutta. This daring enterprise required a lengthy four-month expedition, marked by two crossings of the equator. Due to substantial loss during transit, ice became a luxury item savored by the affluent and colonial leaders in Calcutta, exemplifying humanity's quest for coolness long before the era of refrigeration.