I love Italian gelato. A lot. I’ve tried many flavors over the years. I thought it would be a fun idea to document all of the delicious gelato flavors available at different places around the world
There are a number of flavors of the creamy, traditional, Italian-version of ice-cream. Here I present to you the ultimate list of gelato flavors that you must try at least once in your lifetime.
Gelato – the silkier, smoother, Italian-cousin of ice-cream is a frozen treat for the mouth and the eyes. We bet the aesthetic display of flavors at a gelato parlor has made your mouth water at some point in time. Made with the finest natural, less-fatty ingredients, gelato is consumed popularly worldwide as a dessert or a snack.
If you have ever found yourself at a gelato counter, wondering about what flavor you should get, you have come to the right place! You no longer need to settle for that one flavor you buy each time because you’re scared to try new ones.
We have documented and compiled this ultimate list of gelato flavors just for you!
The History of Gelato
Over 2000 years ago, the Romans started the tradition of eating crushed ice topped with honey.
However, it wasn’t until the late 1600s that the first gelato was introduced to the world by an Italian chef from Sicily called Francesco Procopio Dei Coltelli. Coltelli opened a café in Paris and introduced gelato to Europe.
At that time, he was the only producer of the frozen dessert in the entire region. The first flavors offered at Coltelli’s Café Procope were strawberry and orange.
List of 20 Different Gelato Flavors to Enjoy
1. Panna Cotta
- Italian: Panna Cotta
Are you a fan of milky desserts? Then you will LOVE Panna Cotta gelato!
Panna Cotta literally translates to “cooked cream” from Italian, and this gelato is precisely what its name suggests.
Made from cream and a nut-based caramel sauce, this flavor is highly ranked and widely popular all over Italy.
It’s subtle, nutty flavor makes it a must-have delicacy, especially in colder months of the year!
2. Dulce De Leche
- Italian: Caramello
Dulce De Leche is the Spanish name for “candy of milk,” a common gelato flavor worldwide. Professional gelaterias make this gelato from sweetened and condensed caramel-flavored milk.
This flavor originated in Latin America, in Argentina, when the locals heated condensed cow milk slowly at low temperatures. Dulce De Leche is a perfect milky treat to have on a cool summer evening.
Trust us; it’s a big mood changer!
3. Tiramisu
- Italian: Tiramisù
Tiramisu is a popular flavor that you will find in almost every authentic gelateria around the world.
It is a dessert made from all good things: Mascarpone cream cheese, espresso, ladyfinger cookies, and liquor!
Combine all these ingredients in the form of gelato, and there you have it, an ultimate-favorite flavor that will leave you wanting for more!
4. Coffee
- Italian: Caffè
If your day doesn’t start until you’ve had your coffee, you will surely appreciate this gelato flavor!
Found in almost every single gelateria, coffee gelato is a combination of milk and espresso. Some people like to make it like a latte to keep the coffee flavor more subtle.
It’s like enjoying a cup of frozen cold coffee!
5. Mint
- Italian: Menta
In most gelaterias, peppermint, spearmint, crème de menthe (alcoholic beverage), or a combination of these ingredients are used to make mint gelato.
In the United States, mint ice-cream served with chocolate chips or chunks is extremely popular. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the mint chocolate chip was amongst the top 5 ice-cream flavors in the U.S. in 2017.
6. Biscotti
- Italian: Cantucci/Biscotti
Biscotti are traditional, oblong-shaped, crunchy Tuscan cookies made from almonds. These biscuits are combined with cinnamon, hazelnuts, and milk cream to make biscotti gelato.
Pairing biscotti gelato with a scoop of coffee-flavored gelato will leave a rich taste in your mouth that you won’t forget for a LONG time! It’s like having real almond cookies with coffee!
7. Pistachio
- Italian: Pistacchio
Another nut-based dessert, pistachio, is #7 on our list of gelato flavors. The simple but classic, nutty flavor of pistachio combined with the creamy texture of gelato is a real treat for the tongue.
The delicate touch of salty pistachios and the garnishing of real pistachios on the top will leave you wanting more of that premium feel.
8. Salted Caramel
- Italian: Caramello Salato
Are desserts WITHOUT salted caramel even popular any more? It’s impossible not to include this flavor on our list!
Salted caramel is the ideal, rich combination of sweetness and salt that provides a burst of flavor when mixed with a gelato cream base.
If you enjoy Dulce De Leche, we reckon you’ll have a blast eating this one too!
9. Strawberry Cheesecake
- Italian: Cheesecake Alla Fragola
If you are a big fan of cheesecakes and strawberries (like us!), this is the gelato flavor for you!
Inspired by strawberry cheesecakes and puddings, this flavor has the fruitiness of real strawberries, the creaminess of gelato, and the crunchiness of biscuits!
There is seriously nothing better than enjoying your favorite cake in the form of gelato, drizzled with strawberry sauce and topped with some extra whipped cream!
10. Chocolate Hazelnut
- Italian: Bacio
Do you enjoy adding Nutella to EVERYTHING dessert you eat? Nutella waffles? Nutella pancakes? How about giving Nutella gelato a shot?
Chocolate hazelnut gelato is made from a chocolate hazelnut spread, like Nutella, as the main ingredient.
Available in all popular gelaterias around the world, this creamy gelato flavor with hazelnut bits in every bite is definitely a people-pleaser!
11. Chocolate Chip
- Italian: Stracciatella
If you are someone who enjoys trying out different gelato flavors over the world, you definitely must have heard of stracciatella. It is a go-to flavor in Italy and very similar to the American chocolate chip ice-cream.
We can best describe stracciatella as a combination of basic vanilla ice-cream base mixed with hot, hardened chocolate drizzles.
If you are looking for something light and ordinary, stracciatella is a tasty option.
12. Bubblegum
- Italian: Puffo
If you spot bright blue gelato at a gelateria, it’s probably bubblegum or licorice-flavored.
This blue-colored gelato was born in the 1980s when the popular young children’s TV series called The Smurfs gained popularity all over the world.
In some gelaterias, the gelato tastes like black licorice, whereas it has the sweet but subtly bitter taste of bubblegum in others.
13. Cinnamon
- Italian: Cannella
Cinnamon-flavored gelato is a mixture of freshly ground or powdered cinnamon mixed with creamy milk gelato. It only has a few basic ingredients, but it’s not very popular because of its spicy taste.
If you are allergic to cinnamon, this gelato is probably not your cup of tea, but if you enjoy the spice in your desserts, do give it a try.
14. Lemon
- Italian: Limone
Lemon gelato was amongst the different gelato flavors first-served by Coltelli at Café Procope in Paris.
Popular in the South of Italy, this flavor originated on Amalfi Coast, where lemons are sweeter than anywhere else in the country.
The perfect balance of sweet and tangy lemons in the form of gelato is sure to cool you down on a hot, sunny day!
15. Coconut
- Italian: Noce Di Cocco
Coconut gelato is a well-liked gelato flavor that can transport you to a tropical beach with palm trees in just one bite!
Made from grated coconut, vanilla sugar, and cream base, this flavorsome gelato is a delicacy meant for those who like all things coconut.
16. Walnut
- Italian: Noce
Plain walnut gelato with no traces of chocolate or maple is hard to find, even in Italy. However, the great thing about Italian gelato is the delicate intensification of taste, no matter how ordinary the main ingredient is.
Even if you are not a big fan of walnuts, this gelato made purely from roasted walnuts and cream base will make your winter evenings a whole lot better!
17. Orange Chocolate
- Italian: Cioccolato All’Arancia
Orange chocolate gelato – a combination of our 3 favorite foods – is truly one-of-a-kind.
Made from 70% dark chocolate coloring and orange liquor, the gelato has a dark orange hue and a special tangy kick to it, making it a must-try for all dark chocolate lovers!
18. Raspberry
- Italian: Lampone
Made from raspberry juice and puree, fresh raspberry gelato is a refreshing treat that is popular all year round.
If you are tired of having milk or chocolate-based gelato flavors, go for the popular raspberry gelato. You can even combine it with dark chocolate pieces for a bitter kick!
19. Peach
- Italian: Pesca
Fresh, pureed, and frozen peaches are used all over Italy to create the perfect traditional peach gelato.
The airy, light flavor of peach gelato revitalizes taste buds and keeps the insides cool.
If you enjoy peach juices, smoothies, and rings, you must try peach gelato the next time you head over to an authentic gelateria!
20. Amarena Cherry
- Italian: Amarena Cherry
Made from freshly-sourced Amarenfamousies, this gelato is famous throughout Italy. Popular as dessert toppings, you can also mix Amarena cherries with gelato cream or water base to create the perfect treat for any cherry lover!
Gelato Flavors: What is Your Pick?
Though gelato comes in a variety of different flavors and textures, you won’t know your favorite until you try them all!
Our list of gelato flavors contained the top 20 mouthwatering options you can choose from, whether you are strolling down the street on a chilly winter evening or lying on the beach on a hot, sunny day.
The next time you are standing in a gelateria, recall this list to find your best pick!
