Gelato: DOs and DON'Ts
- Mallory Bachmann
- May 24, 2023
- 4 min read
By. Mallory Bachmann
Cup of Gelato
After a long day filling up on pizza and pasta, many visitors of Florence will look for a sweet treat to end their night with. If you are looking for a dessert that originated in Italy, a frozen cup of gelato is your best bet.
While gelato may look like regular ice cream, Essential Blog states it contains 50% less air which gives it a richer taste and has a wider variety of flavors. These flavors include anywhere from fruity to chocolatey tastes.
While many believe all gelato in Italy is authentic, this is sadly not the case. There are specific “Dos and Don’ts” that every Italian tourist should know before ordering a cup of their own.
DON’Ts
A person can usually know when to avoid a gelato store before even stepping inside. One helpful hint to spot an unauthentic gelato shop is seeing how high their gelato is stacked. Huge piles of gelato are usually a sign that it is not made with fresh and natural ingredients and is usually a tourist trap.
A high pile of gelato often means that gelato does not melt. This is a sign that vegetable fats and emulsifiers have been added. These ingredients are not only bad for you, but will also cause the gelato to lack flavor.
Gelato stored in plastic containers should be avoided for the same reasons. If gelato stays frozen in a plastic container that means the gelato cannot melt, and that the ingredients mentioned above have been added.
The color of gelato is also a big indicator on whether or not it is authentic. Natural flavors should also be naturally colored, meaning bright and neon gelato is a big no. Blogger Catherine Edwards writes that berry flavored gelato should be a “deep, muted red” rather than a neon pink. Lemon flavors should be white, not bright yellow.
Speaking of fruit flavors, authentic gelato will not have a flavor of fruit if that fruit is not in season. For example, it would be uncommon to find authentic strawberry gelato in December considering that strawberries are in season during the beginning of Summer.
DOs
As mentioned earlier, plastic bins of gelato are not a good sign. Gelato found in metal containers with lids usually means the gelato needs to be kept cold to keep from melting. This is a sign of fresh and natural ingredients.
Shop owners who sell authentic gelato should also be able to tell you the exact ingredients within each flavor. A bonus is if they make the gelato on site, this means it is less likely to be mass produced, Conde Nast Traveler.
Flavors in Florence
Must try gelato flavors in Italy include pistacchio, cioccolato, cafe and limone. Since some of the best pistachios used in gelato come straight from Sicily, Italy, this is a must have flavor while visiting. Pistachio gelato can be described as creamy and sweet with a hint of a savory nut flavor.
Cioccolato is a classic chocolate flavor for even the pickier gelato eaters. Authentic cioccolato should be darker and taste richer than regular chocolate ice cream.
Since coffee culture is so popular in Italy, it only makes sense that it would be made into a gelato flavor. Cafe gelato tastes similar to a milky iced coffee. Authentic cafe gelato should be light brown, similar in color to an American chocolate ice cream.
Lastly, for those who prefer a more fruity flavor of gelato, limone is the way to go. Lemons are a prime crop on the Amalfi coast, which is what makes limone ice cream taste so fresh. Remember, authentic limone ice cream will be white not bright yellow.
This flavor guide goes into more detail about the different gelato flavors and how each will taste. Before traveling over to Italy, you could make a list of the flavors you’re most interested in trying. Most shops will even allow you to taste test when you get there.
Best Shops in Florence
When finding a good gelato shop in Florence, some of the most important qualities are taste and authenticity, which usually go hand-in-hand, and service.
Mario Moretti is one of the owners at Studio Gelato. As soon as you walk through the door he is immediately excited to help you pick out a flavor and gives great recommendations. While the shop has an American name and may appear touristy, Mario claims that the gelato is authentic and fresh.
“I love working here because I like meeting all the people. We mainly get business from tourists, a lot of people like our shop because of the inside decorations and name.”
The inside of Studio Gelato consists of pink decorations and is unique compared to nearby gelato shops.
Loren Dusch and Kim Luce stopped by Studio Gelato because of the variety of options and the decorations. Both had only been in Italy for less than a week and this was their second time getting gelato.
“Before I came to Italy I had friends tell me about avoiding the gelato that was stacked up very high. Other than that I usually just go somewhere based on convenience,” Luce said.
They were happy with their choice of Studio Gelato because of the wide range of flavors.
“I normally go for more fruity flavors when it comes to any type of ice cream. Today I will probably get some type of berry,” Dusch said.
Another solid gelato choice is La Strega Nocciola. As soon as you walk in you will notice all of the gelato is kept in metal tins and covered by lids, which is a good sign. Each cup and cone of gelato is topped with a waffle cracker, adding a crunch to your creamy dessert.
Gelateria dei Neri is another spot where you can find a long list of flavors and authentic gelato. One of their most popular flavors being nutella, which is a classic Italian favorite.
If eating gelato is not enough, I Gelati del Bondi offers a basic course where you can learn how to create your own gelato. You can learn more information about this offer by going to their website and clicking on their Facebook page.
Remember these DOs and DON’Ts the next time you are craving a sweet treat and “have gelato fun!”
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