By far the #1 question asked in gelato shops around the world.

​

Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, so when in Italy it is ok to use either term and ask for gelato or ice cream. Outside of Italy and especially in the USA, ice cream is a totally different frozen dessert. Here are the 3 main differences;

​

Fat – ice cream in the USA by law must contain a minimum 10% butterfat. An average ice cream has between 18 and 24% fat, gelato has between 4 – 8%. So ice cream in general has 3 – 4 times the amount of fat compared to gelato. A typical scoop of ice cream can contain around 150 grams with gelato only around 50 grams.

Air – the injection of air is called ‘over run’. You would typically know this from making whip cream at home, pouring in the liquid and the blades whipping up into a larger volume. Ice cream typically is 80% air (some brands have 100% air) and 20% liquid, where gelato is around 25% air and 75% liquid. Ice cream tends to be light and airy while gelato is denser and creamier. An example would be a bowl of ice cream twice the size of a bowl of gelato, but they both weigh the same. Ice cream is mostly air and that is why ice cream sold is by volume not by weight.

Temperature – ice cream is typically sold colder than gelato. Gelato is served warmer than ice cream so are better able to taste the flavour and not just cold.

Gelato's smooth and creamy texture comes from the less air than ice cream. Ice cream has between 50 and 80% air and gelato around 20 to 25% thus making gelato denser.

Gelato is also churned or made with a slower speed resulting in that less air. Gelato is also served at a warmer temperature to its texture stay's silky and softer.

As far as desserts go, for sure gelato is one of the healthiest frozen desserts around. Typical gelato has less calories, fat and sugar than regular ice cream. If you want either healthier go for the sorbetto - which has zero (0%) fat because there is no milk.

The name comes from a Persian drink made of fruit juice, water, sweetner and a cooling component such as snow. Thie was called 'sharbat' after the Arabic word sharbah for 'a drink.' Sherbert (pronounced 'shur-bert") is a common misspelling of sherbet that also is the cause for the mispronounciation.

Sorbetto is the Italian word for sorbet, and it is made using water instead of milk. This means that sorbetto contains 0% butterfat, and is considered to be dairy free!

​

Actually Sherbet or Sherbet is a blend between frozen fruit and 1 - 2% milk or cream. It tends to be lighter than gelato and/or ice cream because of the less dairy and a bit more creamier then sorbetto due to the addition of a bit of milk or cream. Just remember that while it is spelt with an 'r', sherbert, it is actually pronounced sher-bet.

Sicilian Granita

Pronounced [ɡraˈni ta]

Originating in Sicily, Italy it is a water-based, dairy free ice dessert made with water, sugar and a flavour like lemon, coffee, almond or strawberry. The ice crystals are usually larger and more course and crunchier and served as a drink with a spoon.

This beautiful dessert evolved from sherbet an ice drinkimported to Sicily during the Arab domination in the region. In Sicily, the snows collected on Mount Etna were stored in a ice-store, which was actually caves in the area to keep it cold. The layers of ice were scratched off and a flavour was added which was the start of what we know today as Granita.

A home recipe for you to try:

Water 1 litre or 1 quart

Fresh Lemon Juice 250 ml or 8 1/5 ounces

Sugar 250 grams or 9 ounces or 18 tablespoons

STEPS

Put the water on a stove and heat.

Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.

Let cool down, then add the lemon juice.

Put in your freezer and stir ever couple hours.

Before serving stir into a slush, if you use a hand blender use SLOW speed so as not to make it into a liquid.

Serve in a clear glass preferably, add a touch of whip cream on top if you like.

Enjoy and invite your friends.

In 2016, Italian Gelato Info estimated that there were over 100,000 gelato shape world wide...

Europe 60,000

Italy 39,000

Germany. 9,000

Spain 2,000

Argentina. 1,500

China 1,000+

USA 950+

Brazil 500

Japan 500 Canada 90

​

FYI...

Italy - (10,000 are pure gelaterias' the other 29,000 are bars and pastry shops)

Germany - (3,000 are pure gelaterias)

World wide sales was around $15 Billion Euros ($ 22 Billion Canadian $ or $16.5 Billion US dollars).

In a typical cup of glato there is around 90 calories depending on the flavour, about 40% less than ice cream.