3000 years ago, the Emperors of China indulging themselves in frozen delicacies of fruit, wine and honey flavoured snow.

It is said that the Chinese taught Arab traders how to combine syrups and snow, which translates into an early version of the sorbetto. Arab traders then showed Venetians and Romans how to make this new found frozen delicacy.

In the 4th Century B.C., Alexander the Great is said to have been fond of iced beverages. And, in 62 A.D., the Roman Emperor Nero was recorded to have sent fleets of slaves to the Apennine mountains to collect snow and ice to be flavored with nectar, fruit pulp and honey.

The earliest records of milk based gelato, are from the Tang period in China A.D. 618-907. Buffalo, cow and goat milk was heated along with grounded rice and allowed to ferment. Flour was then added for thickening and honey for sweetness. King Tang of Shang had 94 icemen on his staff that took care of this duty.

In the 16th Century when Catherine de Medici of Florence, took her cooks and gelato recipes with her when she married Henry II and became Queen of France. In the 17th Century, Charles I of England is then thought to have purchased the formula for “frozen milk” from a French chef.

Gelato was traditionally considered a delicacy for the upper class until it could be produced on a larger scale. This took developments in the freezing of foods and manufacturing to aid in its widespread fame. Previously gelato had to be eaten within a few hours of it being made as it required too much ice to keep it frozen.

Fritz Gelato prides itself on basing its formula on the traditional recipes. We don’t use artificial flavours and colours, just fresh quality ingredients.