Just sugar, water and flavorings (like fresh fruit and juice), granita is an icy treat that is even better than gelato \/ ice cream in the summer. Much more refreshing and usually served with a straw and a spoon, so you can decide if you want to spoon it out or suck it up. Granita varies in consistency from an icy slush to more like a sherbet.<\/p>\n
The best granita <\/strong><\/em>comes from Sicily, and more specifically Messina (see the granita I had for breakfast this past summer<\/a>) but granita is found throughout Italy at many gelaterie and bar.<\/p>\n I love granita, as evidenced by my Uva Fragola \/ Concord Grape Granita<\/strong><\/a> and Watermelon Granita<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n and check out some granita recipes from fellow bloggers:<\/p>\n Grattachecca : Italian Shaved Ice Not to be left out is grattachecca<\/strong><\/em>, which is not that different from granita<\/em> in appearance but its flavoring is added when the drink is being prepared. It’s like shaved ice – the ice in a large block and is shaved by hand using a metal scraper and then flavored syrups are added to it, and is eaten with a spoon. Shelley from At Home in Rome posted this pic from my\u00a0favorite grattaccheca in Rome which also adds fresh fruit!<\/p>\n Caff\u00e8 Shakerato and Iced Coffee Drinks<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s summertime, but that doesn’t mean that we still don’t need our fix as caffeine addicts! Perhaps an espresso or cappuccino are too hot to contemplate on a sweltering Italian morning, so caff\u00e8 freddo<\/strong><\/em> (cold espresso) and caff\u00e8 shakerato<\/strong><\/em> are two great alternatives. Most bars offer both, so just ask.<\/p>\n Caff\u00e8 freddo<\/em><\/strong> is served differently at each bar, but varies from already brewed espresso kept in the fridge to espresso that is brewed that instant and then served simply over ice.<\/p>\n Caff\u00e8 shakerato<\/strong><\/em> is shaken in a cocktail shaker and often served in a wide-mouth glass like a martini glass. It’s fresh-brewed espresso shaken with ice and sugar (or sometimes directly with a simple syrup) so it gets cool and very frothy and creamy. I like to add Bailey’s to it (you must request this when ordering).<\/p>\n PS: Don’t make the mistake of trying to italianize “shakerato” – it is pronounced shake like milkshake. <\/em><\/p>\n Read more about Caff\u00e8 Shakerato<\/a><\/strong> or Tiramisu Iced Coffee<\/a><\/strong> on this blog: From other food bloggers:<\/p>\n Make sure you also read my post on How to Order an Italian Coffee in Italy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Frullati and Frapp\u00e9 : Fruit Smoothies and Shakes While some may bemoan the lack of a Jamba Juice or similar juice bar presence in Italy, they are not lacking in fruity drinks. You’ll find frullati <\/strong><\/em>(sing. frullato), simple blended drinks of fruit (fresh or frozen), especially in gelaterie or bars where you can find macedonia, fruit salad. Another option is a frapp\u00e9<\/strong><\/em>, which is fruit mixed with milk and\/or sometimes gelato. These drinks are always made in a blender, differently from granita which is pre-made. There is a famous frullati place in Rome that I often went to when I lived there.<\/p>\n You’ll just have to add your protein-antioxidant-energy boosters yourself.<\/p>\n Acqua e Menta: Water and Mint \/ The Original Italian Soda<\/strong><\/p>\n Acqua e menta<\/em><\/strong> could be considered the original Italian soda<\/strong> and probably is the inspiration for the popular Italian-American version – flavored syrup is added to sparkling or still \/ non-carbonated water. This is a classic summer drink, that often people drink in the office, too, as they bring a bottle of flavored syrup to work for everyone and just add it to the water they get from the water cooler.<\/p>\n The mint is almost always a “realistic” dark green color, but you can forgive them that or make your own at home. Other popular flavors include: orzata<\/em><\/strong> (barley), amarena<\/em><\/strong> (black cherry), mandorla<\/em><\/strong> (almond) and lampone<\/em><\/strong> (raspberry). You can find sciroppo<\/strong><\/em> (syrup) like these (try Fabbri<\/a>) in most supermarkets as well, and they are considered dissetante<\/strong><\/em> – thirst-quenching drinks.<\/p>\n This is a simple drink, so it’s usually served without ice, but with very cold \/ refrigerated water as the base. I think Italian Soda seen often in America must be an interpretation of the acqua e menta<\/strong><\/em> with carbonated\/sparkling water, and the Italian Cream soda the latte e menta<\/em><\/strong> (milk and mint) version which is sometimes drunk throughout the year.<\/p>\n![\"Strawberry](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3278\/2802114351_8073b1def1_m.jpg?resize=240%2C169\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Concord](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3029\/2845642272_f223ec334c_m.jpg?resize=240%2C160\")
<\/a> ![\"Watermelon](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1290\/618456057_12ce822454_m.jpg?resize=240%2C160\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"grattaccheca](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/gratta.jpg?resize=150%2C180&ssl=1\" "\\"grattaccheca")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Iced](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/IMG_3998_copy.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1\" "\\"Iced")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Caffe'](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1435\/543470602_df0864cee3_m.jpg?resize=240%2C160\")
<\/a> ![\"Tiramisu](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1047\/1282310807_d02f519e74_m.jpg?resize=240%2C211\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Italian](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/825440991_30b6adf50f_m.jpg?resize=240%2C180&ssl=1\" "\\"Italian")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"acquaementa\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/acquaementa.jpg?resize=160%2C214&ssl=1\" "\\"acquaementa\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n