*Gelato is the common word in Italian for all types of ice cream.
*One of the first gelato desserts was called fior di latte and served at the court of Catherine de Medici in the early 1500s.
*Café Procopio was opened in 1686 by Procopio dei Coltelli, an Italian chef, and the man credited with inventing modern gelato. Many prominent people have dined there, including Voltaire, Robespierre, Napoleon, and Benjamin Franklin. It is still open today.
*King Louis XIV (see below) issued French citizenship and a royal license to be the sole producer of gelato, to Procopio dei Coltelli.
*According to italiangelato.info/lifestyle, the European countries with the most gelato parlors and highest consumption are Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland.
*Artisanal gelato contains 6-9% fat in contrast to ice cream that has 14-25%.
*Artisanal gelato usually contains 35% air – much less than American ice cream at up to 60% air.
*The first fully automated gelato machine was built by Bruto Carpigiani in 1945 in Bologna, Italy.
*Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, resulting in less air and a dense, flavorful consistency.
*In 1896, Italo Marcioni invented the first cone mold to make it easier to eat gelato.
*There are over 39,000 gelaterias in Italy.
*The Gelato Festival is an annual competition for the world’s most delicious gelato. One recent winner is Adám Fazekas, working in his family business, Fazekas Cukrászda, in Budapest. Hungary.
*The Gelato Museum was inaugurated in September, 2012. It is located in the Carpogiani headquarters at Anzola dell’Emilia, Italy. The museum is dedicated to the history, culture, and technology of gelato.
*Carpigiani Gelato University describes its mission as a “breeding ground for successful gelato entrepreneurs . . . Every year more than 2000 people choose to attend at its headquarters in Bologna, Italy.” Courses are given in Italian, English, French, and Spanish. They report that more that 4000 students attend in over 20 satellite campuses.
*Authentic gelato (from a gelateria) is served with a paddle, not a spoon.
*Common gelato flavors include stracciatella (vanilla with strands of chocolate), pistachio, sour cherry, and extra dark chocolate.
*In Japan, you can get matcha and black sesame gelato.
*In Peru, you can get avocado and chili gelato.
*The person who serves gelato is called geletai.
