And why is it offered as both a gelato and sorbet?
Frutti di bosco translates to "fruit of the forest". Most English-speaking countries would call this "mixed berries".
It usually includes blueberries, raspberries, [wild] strawberries, red and/or black currants, elderberries, and blackberries.
For those of you who prefer a creamier version of these fruits, some gelaterie will offer this as a gelato (so a base of milk and cream) and some will offer it as a sorbetto (a base of water, which makes it vegan/lactose-free). Some gelaterie offer one of each, since it's a lovely accompaniment with chocolate, but a watery sorbetto and a rich chocolate gelato might not always blend as well as two gelatos. (Personally, I like blending a sorbetto and gelato since sorbetto will often feel less heavy and help elevate the gelato.)
If there are any berries, or berry-adjacent fruits, that you're allergic to, I highly recommend asking the person behind the counter which berries are included in the gelato, since some shops like to experiment with different berry mixes, sometimes including something like gooseberries, lingonberries, or even goldenberries.
Comments