Gelato means "frozen" in Italian. It is an all-inclusive term that loosely translates to ice cream but also includes anything from sorbet and yogurt to custards. Gelato cannot be called ice cream because, by legal definition in the U.S., ice cream must contain a minimum of ten percent milkfat; premium brands contain up to eighteen percent fat. In contrast, gelato is made with only five to eight percent milkfat. But aside from containing significantly less fat than ice cream, what truly distinguishes gelato is the taste. Gelato is also churned in a different way than Ice cream. It contains much less air than regular ice cream and, despite its lower fat content, boasts a creamy consistency. When done right, gelato is thick, dense and elastic and has different melting characteristics than ice cream.
Most gelato shops today lure consumers in with colorful, eye-candy displays that are designed to appeal to an impulse buyer. Made with mixes and powders and decorated with a garnish of fresh fruit, these confections bear little or no resemblance to authentic Italian gelato prepared with real fresh, wholesome ingredients. Even in Italy, gelato has fallen victim to less expensive and less labor-intensive shortcuts.
Pitango Gelato is bucking the industry trend. We are control freaks who like to control our product all the way from the cow to the consumer. We planted ourselves right next to the milk parlor of Pennsylvania's Spring Wood Organic Farm so we can get our milk straight from its single herd of grass-fed cows. The same goes for the free-range eggs used in our gelato on the same day they are laid. Our products contain exceptional ingredients—from organic chocolate to premium Italian nuts to fresh-picked organic fruit. And we use no artificial colorings, flavorings, extracts or chemicals of any kind.
We know our products cost more than typical ice cream. Although we would love to sell our gelato for less, the higher cost of our ingredients dictates our prices. Most of our customers are happy to pay a small premium for a premium product.