Skip to:
;Resize=(700,240))
;Resize=(750,530))
9/27/2021
GELATO VS. ICE CREAM VS. SORBETTO:
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Did you know gelato isn’t just the Italian word for ice cream? There’s a real difference between the proportions of ingredients, textures, and flavor profiles between the Italian and US versions of these frozen treats. And when you add flavorful sorbetto into the mix, you have three deliciously unique desserts.
So, what is the difference between gelato and ice cream? What is gelato? And what about sorbetto? Get the scoop on all the distinctions between the treats in this tasty trio, below. And if you’re still unclear, let your tastebuds discover the distinctions with a taste test of your favorite Talenti flavors.
ICE CREAM VS. GELATO
You’re probably very familiar with the classic ingredients in ice cream — milk, cream, and sugar. But did you know there are regulations on the ratio of these ingredients? In the US, ice cream must contain at least 10% milk-fat. Ice cream uses cream to achieve this higher fat ratio
While gelato and ice cream are both sweet treats that were invented in 16th century Europe, they are more different than you would think. The first gelato and ice cream difference is that gelato is made with more milk than cream. Since gelato is not ice cream, it doesn’t have to meet the 10% milk-fat requirement and is therefore lower in fat than ice cream.
While there’s no denying gelato and ice cream are both sweet, they aren’t made with the same amount of sugar. What’s the difference between ice cream and gelato sugar levels? Ice cream often has a bit less sugar than gelato. Typically, gelato contains more sugar to give it a soft scoopable texture.
Speaking of texture… Believe it or not, the texture of these treats is greatly influenced by their air levels. Ice cream typically contains more air than gelato and therefore tends to be lighter in texture. On the other hand, gelato usually contains less air than ice cream, resulting in a denser texture, but still soft and scoopable.
One final tip on the difference between ice cream and gelato, gelato is best served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream. This helps with the scoopability of the dense texture and enhances the release of flavor. So, next time you take a pint of Talenti gelato out of the freezer, let it sit on the counter before you dig in so you can get the best coop of our incredible flavors.
WHAT IS SORBETTO DISTINCTION?
We couldn’t forget about our delicious sorbetto! Unlike the two other tasty treats, sorbetto doesn’t contain any milk or cream. This means sorbetto is 100% dairy-free. Since sorbetto is primarily water-based instead of dairy, sorbetto typically has the lowest fat content compared to ice cream and gelato. Just like gelato, sorbetto also contains less air than ice cream to give it an indulgently dense texture.
Without dairy, sorbetto tends to achieve its rich flavor with fruit. We rely on the right balance of water, sugar and lots of real fruit to deliver the perfect texture and flavor in each Talenti sorbetto. As sorbet was invented as early as 3000 BC in the Middle East, sorbetto is the oldest of this frozen treat trio.
Fun facts: Each pint of our Talenti Roman Raspberry Sorbetto has at least 97 raspberries! And more than 1.2 cups of fresh, ripe mangoes from Maharashtra, India are used in every pint of our Talenti Alphonso Mango Sorbetto. These are the perfect dairy-free and vegan treats that everyone can enjoy.
Now, the next time someone asks, “how is gelato different from ice cream,” you have all the facts to settle the great ice cream vs gelato debate. Of course, you can always taste the gelato and ice cream difference with a scoop of your favorite Talenti gelato flavor. And when you’re craving something even more unique and fruity, you can add delicious sorbetto to the mix!
