By Sienna Eshleman
If I go home remembering only one thing from Italy, I will want it to be the absolutely delicious food that I’ve had here. When I think of Italy, I think of historical monuments, pasta, cobblestone roads, and most importantly gelato. Throughout my time here, I have had the best gelato of my whole life, crafted beautifully with the best ingredients. The time and care that local gelato places put into their food is blatantly apparent when you take that first spoonful of gelato. My personal favorite is Lemone, or lemon, which is a tarter and zingier flavor compared to the creamier flavors. But as I was eating gelato from all over Italy, I started to think about the potential origins of the treat, and why gelato is so different in Italy compared to the United States. Because Italian culture is rich with food culture, I took a deep dive into the origins, cultural implications, and modern-day uses of gelato.
It is theorized that the very first creation of ice cream and gelato comes from ancient Persia and China when their cultures combined their local snow with fruit. There was no type of cream to create the creamy consistency known today, but rock salt would be added to create a hard texture. How the treat made its way to Italy remains up to debate, with many saying that it was introduced to Italy through Marco Polo, who was traveled that journeyed around Asia in the late 1200s, and after he visited China, but others state that Roman emperors enjoyed the cold treat far before he ever made his way to the country. Once the combination of ice and fruit became popular, it quickly began to develop into the ice cream and gelato we know of today. Historians believe that a Florence native named Bernardo Buontalenti was the first individual to take what he saw from the Chinese dessert and make it into gelato.
Gelato is different than ice cream, not only because it is simply better, but because there is one specific ingredient that is changed. Instead of cream products being added, regular milk or skim milk will be added, which makes the treat lower in fat content. Less fat in the product allows for the flavors to be enhanced as they are not muddled with the dominating taste of cream. Also, there is less air whipped into gelato, making it denser than ice cream, which also allows for more flavor in smaller portions. Less air also means that one can eat less yet be more satisfied, perfect for an after-meal treat.
Although lemone is my favorite flavor, the traditional Italian flavors are incredible as well. Flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, pistachio, and coconut are the best and original flavors, you will always be able to find these flavors in every gelato shop you go to. But not every gelato shop is created equal. Before I came to Italy, I was watching a video about an American woman who moved to Italy and was creating awareness of Italian culture and everything that it entails. One of the best pieces of advice she gave, at least in my opinion as a foodie, was how to find the best and most authentic gelato in Italy.
She stated that there are many gelaterias that are targeted specifically towards tourists, displaying their gelato with bright colors, piled high, with fruit on top for decoration. These are filled with added ingredients to make sure they stay aesthetic while piled on the container. The real, most authentic, types of gelatos one will find is when the dessert is completely covered. If the gelato is in a metal container covered by a metal top, which ensures that the gelato doesn’t melt and therefore holds its flavor as best as possible. The pictures below demonstrate the differences between the tourist gelato and the Italian gelato.
Because of the special attention put towards the ingredients in authentic Italian gelato, many here consider it to be good for you. If you are able to find authentic Italian gelato, you might just hit the jackpot in the most pleasurable healthy meal. A much better alternative to the chocolate cake or the calorie dense ice cream, gelato offers a light and refreshing alternative made without preservatives and blended with real fruit. If your gelato is made with real milk and nuts, then it can also have high amounts of protein. Also because of the fruit blended in the dessert, there is an abundance of vitamins that are rarely found in other desserts. So, the next time you are debating on getting gelato or not, go do it because its healthy (technically)! Buon Appetitio!
Gelateria recommendations in Rome:
Fassi Gelateria: This location in Rome has been serving citizens since 1880, and their most notable flavors are currant, pistachio, and eggnog
Come Il Latte: translating to “like milk”, this gelateria works to make their gelato extra creamy for an affordable price
Il Gelato di San Crispino: appearing in the film Eat, Pray, Love, this gelato spot only allows its customers to eat their gelato out of a cup, never a cone, to preserve the original taste.
Gelateria del Teatro: Located near the Piazza Navona, this gelato shop strictly gets its ingredients from local Italian shops, they only use filtered water, and get new milk delivered every day.
Giolitti: Thought to be the oldest gelato shops in Rome, this shop is located near the Pantheon, and has been owned by the same family since the 1800’s.
About the Author:
Sienna Eshleman is going into her last year at CSU, majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Women’s Studies. She grew up in Longmont, Colorado, and wanted to stay close to home for college and hopes to stay in Colorado long after she graduates. After the month that she spent in Italy, Sienna has been able to have some of the best food she’s ever had in her life. The gelato she’s tasted has been beyond any of her expectations. Back in the United States, Sienna loves ice cream, but will be searching for the best gelato in Colorado after what she has tasted in Rome. She will never forget the friends she has made on this trip, being able to crack the coconuts of the locals, and the never-ending adventures. She would like to thank her professors, Dr. Julia and Dr. Carl, for making this trip so enjoyable, and her parents for making this dream a reality.
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