What is Sherbet?

Sherbet is a sweet, frozen treat that has been popular since the 17th century. It has a unique texture, with a fruity flavor that can range from light and refreshingly tart to zesty and zingy. Sherbet is similar to ice cream in that it is typically enjoyed as a dessert, but it is different in that it’s made with a higher concentration of fruit juice and carbonated water than ice cream. Sherbet’s texture is also different, being softer and fluffier than ice cream due to having a higher air content than ice cream.

History of Sherbet

The origin of sherbet goes back to Turco-Persian cultures of the 17th century, which combined fruit juices and ice to create a fizzy, frozen treat known as sharbat. Essentially, sherbet is an evolution of sharbat and was made a bit differently. Instead of snow, sherbet was mixed with ice and salt for freezing, something that allowed for a larger production of sherbet on a larger scale.

Sherbet continued to find popularity throughout the 19th century and was commonly served in European countries. During the same time, the United States was being exposed to the treat, and it was the beginning of the sherbet industry. It wasn’t until the early 20th century, though, that the treat really gained momentum. The development of things like mechanical can defrosting and continuous freezing machines allowed for mass production of sherbet, and the treat rose in popularity and came to be associated more with the United States.

Types of Sherbet

Today, sherbet comes in a range of flavors, from traditional fruity flavors like orange, raspberry, and lime, to more complex flavor combinations like peach-mango and passion fruit. Other varieties of sherbet, including Italian ices and sorbets, use similar ingredients but vary in flavor and texture. Italian ices are quite popular and often sold at Italian restaurants. They use fruit purees, water, and sugar or corn syrup and are usually not frozen until after they are served. They are known for their intense flavor and firm texture. Sorbet is also made from fruit purees, but it tends to be water based and not contain any dairy.

In conclusion, sherbet is a sweet, refreshing treat that has been enjoyed for centuries. Production has come a long way since its early days and today, there are a wide variety of sherbet flavors, as well as many other types of frozen treats like Italian ices and sorbets that have similar flavor and texture.