Authentic Italian Gelato

LR: Gelato is something I had been anticipating from the moment I received my acceptance to this study abroad program. Gelato is enjoyed by numerous people in the town of Castiglion Fiorentino. It is an easy way to relax and enjoy the smooth, sweet taste of the equivalent of ice cream in Italy. My first gelato I devoured while in Italy is pictured above. The flavor is called stracciatella. They allowed us to sample as many as we wanted before we made the huge decision of what kind to buy. Although American's believe that they have the equivalent, there is no comparison to that of authentic Italy. Although many people think that ice cream and gelato are similar, there are many differences. Gelato is served at a slightly warmer temperature, making it less frozen than that of ice cream. Personally, I enjoy this attribute due to my sensitive teeth. Surprisingly, gelato is denser than ice cream because it is whipped with less air. Also, gelato contains 30 percent air while ice cream is whipped with 50 percent air. This Gelato also contains less fat (whoop!) than ice cream.  This is probably good because it is difficult to resist getting more than one scoop! Due to the lesser amount of fat found in gelato, it doesn't have quite as thick of a coat on the inside of your mouth when consuming it. Whether you prefer gelato or ice cream does not really matter, it is the experience of sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful views of Castiglion Fiorentino with your new best friends.