These days you can find peaches and cream cocktails, ice cream, hand lotion, fragrances, oatmeal, candy, fudge, coffee, granola bars, syrup, vape juice, and more. It seems the world has gone gaga for peaches and cream over the past decade or so and here at Rocky Mountain Soda Co. we're all for it as it helps bring attention to our own Palisade Peaches & Cream natural soda.
So where did this love for peaches and cream come from? How is it that peaches and cream assumed primacy over the taste buds of so many ordinary Americans? Is the CIA behind it? Did aliens secretly alter our brain chemistry to obsess over the combined flavors of cream and peach? Not really. Peaches and cream has become just about everyone's favorite flavor of everything because it's an iconic flavor combination that's been ignored for too long and is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
A Brief History of Peaches & Cream
Though the phrase “peaches and cream” might sound like a recent trend, the pairing actually has deep historical roots. The earliest known instances of peaches being combined with some form of cream or dairy date back centuries to European kitchens, where stewed fruit was commonly served with clotted cream or custard. As peaches made their way across the Atlantic and flourished in the American South, the combination of ripe, sun-warmed peaches with fresh cream became a summertime favorite.
In colonial America, where seasonal eating was the norm, peaches and cream was more than a simple dessert – it was a celebration of abundance. The dish was typically served fresh and unembellished: sliced peaches picked that day, drenched in fresh cream from the morning’s milking. This humble pairing became symbolic of the region’s rich agricultural traditions and summertime hospitality. In fact, by the mid-1800s, “peaches and cream” had become a cultural shorthand for describing anything especially smooth, rich, or idyllic.
By the 20th century, the flavor combo was reimagined into ice cream, baked goods, and confections, slowly paving its way into the modern food and beverage industry. Today, it’s a fixture in everything from diner milkshakes to artisanal bath products – and shows no signs of slowing down.
Fun Facts About Peaches and Cream
“Peaches and cream” is an idiom
The phrase has been used since the 1800s to describe someone with a radiant, rosy complexion, especially fair-skinned individuals with a soft blush to their cheeks. Saying someone has "peaches and cream skin" implies a healthy, youthful glow – much like the fruit and dairy combo itself: fresh, smooth, and subtly sweet. The term has since entered pop culture, literature, and even beauty product branding, reinforcing its enduring charm.
peaches and cream • used to describe someone who has smooth and pale skin with light pink cheeks
SOURCE: Merriam Webster
There are over 300 varieties of peaches grown in the U.S.
While supermarket shoppers are usually offered just one or two varieties, peach lovers know there's a world of flavor out there. From white-fleshed peaches with floral, low-acid notes to deep orange cultivars bursting with tangy sweetness, each variety offers a slightly different taste. Some are better for canning, others for baking – and some are absolutely perfect for pairing with cream.
Georgia is the Peach State – but California grows more peaches
Georgia gets all the love for its juicy peaches – and rightly so, given their reputation for exceptional quality and sweetness. But in terms of volume, California produces more peaches annually than any other state, accounting for more than half of the U.S. supply. South Carolina often surprises people by ranking second in peach production, further proving that the South takes its stone fruit seriously.
Peaches originated in China
The peach tree (Prunus persica) is native to northwest China, where it has been cultivated for more than 4,000 years. In Chinese folklore, peaches symbolize longevity and immortality. They were often featured in artwork, poetry, and mythology as sacred fruits of the gods. It wasn’t until the fruit spread along trade routes through Persia and into Europe that it eventually made its way to the Americas with Spanish explorers in the 1500s.
Peaches are picked by hand
Unlike some fruits that can be machine harvested, peaches are highly sensitive to bruising and require gentle handling. Most commercial peaches are picked by hand at just the right moment of ripeness – soft enough to be flavorful, but firm enough to survive transportation. That means every peach you bite into likely passed through the hands of a skilled farm worker who assessed its color, feel, and aroma.
Cream wasn’t always dairy
While today we think of heavy cream or whipped topping, early versions of peaches and cream – especially in Europe or among settlers without easy access to dairy – often used alternatives like almond milk, egg-based custards, or even sweetened rice cream. In modern vegan adaptations, coconut cream and cashew milk are popular choices that mimic the same velvety texture and mouthfeel.
Peaches are technically a member of the rose family.
That delicate floral aroma you associate with peaches? It’s not a coincidence. Peaches belong to the Rosaceae family, which also includes almonds, cherries, plums, and yes – roses. This botanical connection explains why their scent is often described as perfumed or rosy and why peach extract is commonly used in both gourmet recipes and perfumery.
The flavor pairing may have scientific roots
A study in food pairing theory suggests that ingredients that share key aromatic compounds tend to work well together. Peaches and dairy both contain a group of compounds called lactones, which create fruity, creamy, and coconut-like notes. This molecular similarity enhances their harmony on the palate and helps explain why the combination feels so naturally irresistible.
Peaches and cream have their own musical moment.
The phrase “peaches and cream” has appeared in dozens of songs across genres—from jazz to funk to modern R&B. One of the earliest and most iconic examples is “Peaches 'n' Cream” by the Ikettes, a 1965 soul hit that brought the phrase into the musical spotlight. Later artists, like R&B group 112 in the early 2000s, reimagined the pairing as a romantic metaphor. The phrase’s sensory allure continues to make it a popular lyrical device today.
"But if you know I found the girl to marry,
Life can be a bowl of cherries, like
Peaches n' cream.
Don'tcha know what I mean?"
—The Ikettes – Peaches 'n' Cream
Order Palisade Peaches & Cream Natural Soda Today
At Rocky Mountain Soda Co. we pride ourselves on producing high-quality beverages that take the soda pop industry in new and exciting directions. When you serve up our Palisades Peaches & Cream soda or any other delicious Rocky Mountain Soda Co. soft drinks, you're showing guests that you care enough to provide them with the very best. Serve our delicious natural sodas at your next gathering to cement your place as a world-class host.
Order Peaches & Cream Soda
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