When it comes to "dessert paradise", it is hard to ignore Italy with its sweet essences from Tiramisu cake to Panettone, Biscotti or Panna Cotta. However, the "star" of summer is probably nothing other than colorful Gelato ice cream.
Nowadays, right in Vietnam or anywhere else, people can easily enjoy many typical Gelato flavors such as Pistacchio (Pistachio), Fior di Latte (Milk Ice Cream), or fresh fruits. However, there are unique ice cream flavors that you can hardly find anywhere else outside of its homeland.
Riso - Sweet taste from rice grains
Perhaps, among the myriad of explosive flavors with bright, prominent colors, people will easily overlook a humble but equally unique option: Rice Gelato. If you have the opportunity to visit the art city of Florence, you can find these gelatos in any ice cream shop because this is where it was born. The ingredient of this Gelato is Arborio - a short-grain Italian rice, however, people can also use any other similar grain and few people can recognize the difference.
Rice flavored gelato has a simple and delicate flavor
"But what flavor can rice bring?" - perhaps that is the question that many people ask when they first encounter this special ice cream flavor. However, the combination of the rich creaminess of the milk cream and the light, fragrant flavor of the cooked rice grains creates a wonderful blend of flavors. If you are a lover of simplicity with special subtle accents, you will definitely love the original deliciousness of this interesting dessert.
Liquirizia - Strong herbal fragrance
Licorice is a traditional ingredient in herbal teas or medicines to enhance the aroma, sweet aftertaste and also has health benefits. In Italy, Gelato alla Liquirizia was born, making licorice the main character to highlight its unique and explosive flavor.
Licorice gelato has a distinctive aroma and sweetness.
Made from familiar ingredients including milk, cream and sugar, adding licorice powder or licorice extract; this ice cream has a unique light brown color, some places will decorate with a bit of eye-catching black licorice candy. From the first taste, you will definitely be impressed by the strong aroma that awakens the senses. The fatty taste mixed with the characteristic deep bittersweet taste of licorice inside the coolness of an ice cream will take your taste buds from one surprise to another.
You can find most licorice ice cream in the southern region of Calabria, as this is the largest licorice producing region in Italy. However, due to its widespread popularity, the flavor is now available in many other regions across the country.
Zuppa Inglese - Inspired by England
Zuppa Inglese translates to "English Soup". From the name itself, this flavor evokes an unpredictable curiosity. In fact, it originates from a British dessert called Trifle, which consists of layers of sponge cake, sponge cake or biscuits, custard cream, jam, fruit... arranged alternately in a glass bowl to reveal each colorful layer. Therefore, enjoying Zuppa Inglese is like enjoying a cake with all the rich, sweet flavors. To neutralize and highlight this classic dessert, a little wine is added, cleverly exploding the aroma in the cool ice cream.
Zuppa Inglese is inspired by a British cake.
Loved especially by sweet tooths, Zuppa Inglese has become a very popular gelato flavor in Italy and is available in ice cream shops in both major cities and the suburbs.
Zabaglione - Sweet and creamy custard flavor
Zabaglione has the richness of custard and wine.
If you love the rich taste of custard, Gelato Zabaglione is definitely the choice for you. The ice cream has a bright yellow color like a chicken egg yolk and a smooth texture that immediately reminds you of the filling in the legendary Choux pastry. This sweet and aromatic combination with high-alcohol wines like Marsala or Vin Santo creates a very interesting twist on a traditional ice cream flavor. Sometimes, people also add a layer of fresh fruit to give it a fresh summer flavor.
Cipolla Rossa - Ice cream...onion flavor?
Culinary creativity is one of the most endearing traits of the Italian people. And it reaches its peak with the unusual combination of red onion gelato.
In the Tropea region of southern Italy, purple onions are a specialty with a sweet taste and a strong aroma thanks to favorable climate and soil conditions. Therefore, as a matter of pride, people put it in a series of popular dishes such as pasta, bread, salad, pizza and gelato. It can be guessed that a Gelato alla Cipolla Rossa ice cream has a taste that is not easy to enjoy. Still with a high-fat milk cream base, the highlight lies in the sweet, pungent taste of onions that invades the taste buds and gives you a feeling that is both strange, interesting and equally explosive.
Shallot flavored gelato has a taste that is not for everyone.
Because of this picky flavor, this is not an easy ice cream flavor to find in Italy. You can visit the famous ice cream shop Gelati Tonino in Tropea - the creator of this unique ice cream to experience it in its most original way. If you are brave and curious enough, this flavor adventure will give you a very memorable memory, but it is definitely not for everyone.
