Paula Stanghetta June 5, 2020On our recent tours of Sicily and Puglia, there were lots of granita or gelato opportunities. Now, some people may be firmly in one camp or the other and usually I’m on the fence. But the one thing that sealed my decision this time around, was, of all things – the weather!
Without fail, granita was my go-to choice because it was so refreshing and thirst-quenching in the 30˚ average temperatures we were enjoying.
What’s the Difference?
Gelato
Gelato, meaning ‘frozen’, is often compared to ice cream. Like ice cream, gelato is made with cream, milk and sugar. Unlike ice cream, it doesn’t usually contain eggs or egg yolks. Also, gelato has less butterfat than traditional ice cream, and is of a higher density because it is whipped less, and is stored at a higher temperature. Therefore, it never freezes quite as solidly and melts quicker than ice cream. Gelato is often made in small batches, with added flavourings
Granita
Granita on the other hand, contains three simple ingredients: sugar, water, and flavourings. The ingredients are blended together and are semi-frozen until the consistency is like ice chips. The flavourings are key, with the freshest ingredients producing the best end result.
Granita originates in Messina, Sicily. According to Search Sicily, granita is linked to the nevarolu (man who collects snow) craft. Around the fourteenth century, this character allowed the wealthy families to purchase snow, which was stored in caves, and season it with lemon in order to refresh hot summers.
A Special Culinary Visit
One of our favourite stops was Caffè Sicilia in Noto, Italy. We met the proprietor, Corrado Assenza, a gracious and humble man who happens to make the absolutely best almond granita I have ever tasted!
Check out Volume 4, Episode 2 of Chef’s Table on Netflix to learn more about him and his passions.
Granita or Gelato?
Today, thank goodness, granita is not only a treat for the wealthy, nor limited to Sicily. Wherever you find it, enjoy it! or which Italian dessert is the best, well…we’ll leave that to your tastebuds to decide when you’re on tour with us! Message us to tell us where you’ve tasted the best of these two cold treats.
Prize Update
The winner of a bottle of Italian olive oil from Puglia is Daniela Schmidt. Enjoy Daniela!
