Gelato is a fabulous frozen dessert. Where did it originate? Legend tells us various forms of gelato originated in China, in Moorish and other Arabic-speaking areas, and in present-day Italy.

No one knows for sure, but we are told that our modern versions of gelato are a combination of recipes from the northern and southern regions of Italy. In the cold, mountainous regions of the north, the Dolomites and Tuscans herded cows. They utilized milk to make various cheeses and then stored the extra milk in the snow to preserve it for later use. This natural refrigeration created an unexpected frozen treat; hence, the moniker of frozen milk or gelato.

It is said they used natural flavorings such as honey and various berries found in the mountain forests to enhance their new dessert. Gelato became a well-known export from northern Italy and artisans soon spread the gelato-manufacturing expertise to the nearby mountainous areas of Europe.

In southern Italy, a different form of gelato came from northern Africa via the people of Sicily. This pre-modern gelato product was predominately water-based, flavored with fresh fruit or syrups, and had a high sugar content. The southern form was equally robust in its flavor and taste as its northern cousin. Today, the word sherbet is attributed to Arabic origins.