You pronounce gelato in Italian as jeh-LAH-toh, with the emphasis on the middle syllable, sounding like "jeh" (like "jet" without the 't') then "LAH" (like the musical note) then "toh" (like "toe"), making it a smooth, dense, and rich frozen dessert.
While the word "gelati" is simply the plural of gelato, it's also considered its own dessert.
While specific rankings vary, Pistachio, Chocolate, and Hazelnut consistently rank as top contenders for the most popular gelato flavors globally, alongside classic fruit flavors like Strawberry and Lemon, with Pistachio often cited by shops as their top seller due to its rich, nutty appeal, notes Delicious, Webstaurant Store, and whygelato.com.
What About Supermarket "Gelato"? There are two reasons gelateria-style gelato isn't sold in a grocery store: the temperature of the freezer and the the time spent at that temperature.
You can often eat gelato but not ice cream because gelato has significantly less fat and air, making it easier to digest for sensitive stomachs, and it often uses more milk and fewer artificial ingredients, while ice cream's high cream/fat content and air make it heavier and potentially harder to process for some individuals. Gelato's lower fat and higher density also mean it contains more actual flavor in each bite, potentially allowing you to eat less for satisfaction.
The "healthiest" ice cream often means lower calories, sugar, and fat, with popular low-cal/high-protein options including Halo Top, Enlightened, and Yasso (Greek yogurt bars), while Breyers No Sugar Added is a good choice for sugar-free, and sorbets or dairy-free alternatives (almond/oat milk) offer lower fat/dairy-free benefits. The best choice depends on your goals (protein, low sugar, dairy-free), but always check nutrition labels for real ingredients and watch out for excessive toppings.
“Buongiorno, vorrei un gelato piccolo in cono, per favore.” In English, that's “Hello, I would like a small gelato in a cone, please.” From there, to order your gelato in Italian, you just need to fill in the blanks.
The unhealthiest ice creams are typically rich, indulgent flavors from brands like Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs, featuring high amounts of sugar, saturated fat, and calories from mix-ins like fudge, caramel, and candy, with flavors like Ben & Jerry's "Chunky Monkey" or"Peanut Butter Cup" often topping lists due to their extreme sugar and calorie counts per serving. Beyond specific brands, ice creams with artificial colors, flavors, and emulsifiers, along with excessive added sugars and unhealthy fats, should be avoided for better health.
A typical serving of gelato is lower in fat than traditional ice cream, and contains between 150-200 calories per serving compared to the whopping 520 calories per serving ice cream dolls out.
Here's a quick look at the top six gelato-loving countries:
8 Ways to Identify Genuine Artisanal Gelato
First of all, color is a significant indicator: authentic artisanal gelato will always have natural, muted, and never overly vivid colors—such as the subtle green or brownish pistachio, beige banana, or white lemon.
Gelato is expensive due to its reliance on premium, often imported ingredients, a labor-intensive, small-batch production process with more manual labor, less air (denser product), and a higher cost for the quality, fresh milk used, plus the perception of luxury, Italian craftsmanship, and a richer flavor/texture experience that justifies a higher price point compared to mass-produced ice cream.
Are you searching for an ice cream brand with real ingredients? Some top brands are Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's, Jeni's, Handel's, Straus Family Creamery, Alec's Ice Cream, Alden's Organic, Adirondack Creamery, Van Leeuwen, and Amul.
Now, for some healthier swaps:
Try Greek yogurt popsicles sweetened with a bit of honey or fruit. Blend frozen fruit like mangos, pineapple, or strawberries into a sorbet. Look for low-calorie ice cream alternatives with less fat and sugar. Halo Top is a good one.
Gelato is a healthy snack option that contains a relatively small number of calories and sugar. One serving of gelato (88 grams) contains about 160 calories and 17 grams of sugar, depending on the flavour. While everyone's dietary needs vary, gelato can generally be consumed as a special treat from time to time.
It is possible to refreeze anything that melted, but icecream will never have the same texture refrozen. The melted bit gets “tough" when refrozen.
What Are the Most Popular Gelato Flavors?
Vanilla is Australia's most popular ice cream flavor, forming the base for many favorites like Streets Blue Ribbon, while iconic treats like Golden Gaytime, Magnum, and Weis Mango Bar dominate single-serve sales, showing a love for both classic vanilla and unique, crumb-covered or fruity combinations.
Local licensing laws currently prohibit ALDI from selling liquor in our Queensland and South Australian stores.
With Jell-O salads becoming less popular, the brand looked for its next hit. But it had a problem: With the increase in women entering the workforce, families weren't sitting down for as many meals and eating dessert like they once did. And new, ready-to-eat foods were hitting the market that were more convenient.