EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WGGB) — We take a closer look at a story tonight that created a firestorm both online and here at ABC40.  What is the difference between a milkshake and a frappe?

According to our meteorologist Dan Brown, “A milkshake does not have ice cream, a Fribble and a frappe have ice cream.  That’s the difference.”

After sharing his view on the frozen treats, phone calls, emails and Facebook posts flooded in with responses.

But is there a true answer?

“Um I have no idea,” says Dan Brown.

When in doubt make up your own definition.

We spoke with Steve Hudyka who’s from East Longmeadow and he told us, “I think frappe is a fancy way of saying milkshake.”

Michael Konarski who’s also from East Longmeadow says, “A frappe is more sophisticated and a milkshake is more leisure activity.”

“A milkshake has milk, doesn’t a frappe have milk too?” asks Dan Brown.

But many disagreed with the explanation on-air this morning.

“I feel like there is more ice cream in a milkshake.  That’s maybe why I like it more,” explains Konarski.

But Dan Brown still insists that only a frappe is made with ice cream and he was determined to find someone who agrees.

“A milkshake is made with strictly milk and flavoring all mixed up something like chocolate milk. And a frappe? A frappe is milk flavoring and scooped ice cream,” says Mike Deyoso with Richardson’s Ice Cream in Middletown.

East Longmeadow resident, Yvonne Baevsky had this to say on the matter, “I moved to Massachusetts, I found a milkshake was actually milk and syrup and a frappe was ice cream milk and flavoring.  A frappe is what you want.”

So Dan Brown isn’t alone after all.

Many agreed that what you call it depends on where you live.

One local ice cream factory makes them both the exact same way.

“I think they are the same thing.  It is milk with usually 2 scoops of ice cream,” says Michelle Pellerrin who works for JB’s Ice Cream Factory in East Longmeadow.

And when asked if she thought it really makes a difference?  Her answer was, “No.”

So the mystery remains.  When ordering a frappe or a milkshake, you may just want to specify what you want next time you order.