After the last heat wave we endured, we decided it might be a good time to write about some of our favorite ice cream flavors that help keep us cool when the mercury is rising. Despite what you might think, ice cream doesn’t always have a cooling effect — eating anything generally warms us up.
The magic lies in certain ingredients which help bring our core temperatures down when it’s hot out, or at least help us feel more comfortable. This list of 14 Fiorello’s flavors is sure to keep you comfortable next time air-conditioning just isn’t cutting it!
Table of Contents
Mint Chip Gelato
It’s no secret that minty foods and flavors leave you with a fresh-and-cool taste and feel. The reason for this is that mint leaves (along with oregano, basil, sage, and thyme) contain a compound (menthol) which naturally triggers the sensory receptors in our mouths which are also stimulated by cold temperatures.
What this means is our mouths and bodies are “tricked” into feeling cooler, and of course, more comfortable, even though our temperatures aren’t changing. This explains that “cold” feeling you get from anything minty — from toothpaste to bubble gum, to Fiorello’s Mint Chip Gelato — Chef Tony’s go-to on the hottest dog days of summer.
Tony Spumoni
The Tony Spumoni ®, our signature gelato, will no doubt impress your dinner guests after a hearty meal. This simple but sophisticated recipe was handcrafted by Chef Tony and perfected over decades.
Our signature flavor originally comes from the Traditional Spumoni gelato, a classic Italian dessert, made from a combination of cherry, pistachio, and chocolate (or vanilla) with nuts and candied fruits.
Even though we do have a Traditional Spumoni flavor with strawberry, pistachio, and chocolate, Tony also decided to come up with his version of the traditional Spumoni (as he wasn’t a big fan of the candied fruits when he was a boy).
This is why he created Tony Spumoni specifically with no fruit. Layering 3 different flavors: chocolate, almond, and pistachio.
Over the years, it has become one of our signature flavors and remains one of our most beloved flavors!
Sea Salt Caramel
One of our most treasured summer pastimes is driving up the beautiful Sonoma coastline and watching the sunset from our favorite overlook.
A few scoops of Fiorello’s Sea Salt Caramel Gelato is a perfect match for the misty ocean air blowing in off the rocky shoreline below. Pick up a pint of Fio’s at Bodega Bay Oyster Company on your way up Highway 1!
Our Sea Salt Caramel gelato is by far one of the smoothest flavors you can find in our collection. For a simply pure caramelized experience.
But if you’re craving a combination of smooth caramel with crushed pieces of toffee, we would recommend you try our Caramel Heat Bar gelato.
Watermelon Sorbet
Being a delicious fruit that’s made of 90% water has its benefits. Fiorello’s Watermelon Sorbet — exclusively part of our seasonal summer collection — will quench your thirst and lower your temps on the hottest of summer scorchers.
From wine-tasting to weddings, it’s the perfect treat for any outdoor afternoon event. Our watermelon sorbet will keep your guests refreshed under the burning sun!
Our sorbets do not contain any artificial flavorings or artificial extracts. It simply consists of locally sourced watermelons with some water, sugar, and all-natural stabilizers (guar gum & locust bean gum).
Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato
There are many ice cream manufacturers out there, and every single one has its own take on Vanilla. We like to think of our Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato as the world’s very best Vanilla ice cream ever. It’s a bold statement, but we stand by it. Enjoy this decadent classic anytime; it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
The Tahitian Vanilla Bean is renowned for bringing an entirely different experience to your taste buds compared to other regular vanillas. Its extreme complexity makes it stand out.
You may be surprised to read that Vanilla beans are the fruit of a very particular species of orchid, the only one able to produce fruits in the orchid family. The complex history of Vanilla cultivation goes back hundreds of years.
Right now, more than 70% of the world’s Vanilla comes from the Indian Ocean region (including Madagascar and Réunion).
The labor-intensive process of cultivating the Tahitian Vanilla makes it very difficult to produce and results in small crops (80% of the crops are coming from Taha’a, a tiny island located in French Polynesia).
A plant of Vanilla can take up to four years before being able to produce this luxurious fruit. Which makes it the most prized Vanilla species in the world. The combination of these different factors explains why the Tahitian vanilla still remains unknown to the general public.
Valrhona Chocolate Gelato
Chocolate connoisseurs rejoice! Our luxurious Valrhona Chocolate Gelato is made of cocoa sourced from France and pairs exceptionally with fresh strawberries in the summer. It makes for an aromatic poolside snack after a swim into the deep end.
Valrhona is a french super-premium chocolate manufacturer who has been producing, for a century, one of the finest chocolates you can find on earth in a very small town in Hermitage, a region of France well known for its Wine.
The company was founded by Chef Albéric Guironnet back in 1922. From the beginning, this Artisan manufacturer has been on a mission to pursue the gastronomic traditions of the region by offering the most unique product so the world can experience the complexity of Valrhona Chocolates.
Valrhona is mainly used by the finest Chefs worldwide, but you can also find them right here in pints of Fiorello’s gelato.
Old Kentucky Bourbon Butter Pecan Gelato
Fiorello’s Old Kentucky Bourbon Butter Pecan Gelato is our signature nightcap dessert. Even though its name can be tongue twister to pronounce, it has been one of our best sellers for many years.
Our Old Kentucky Bourbon Butter Pecan is made with real bourbon and our proprietary blend of buttery flavor with crushed pecans glazed with maple syrup. OMG.
A few scoops and you’ll go straight from the pint to the couch for a nighttime Netflix sesh!
Coconut Almond Chip Gelato
Open up a pint of Fiorello’s Coconut Almond Chip Gelato and immediately be transported to a tropical beach in the breezy Caribbean. Coconut has cooling properties which can help you stay comfortable in the heat while enjoying our take on one of nature’s most delicious offerings.
Our flavor is composed of a coconut based-cream incorporated with crushed almond pieces, coconut flakes, and chocolate flakes.
Espresso Gelato
For all our coffee lovers, Fiorello’s Espresso Gelato packs a punch. Our version is made out of a coffee-infused cream mixed with real espresso beans very finely crushed, all sourced from a local roaster in San Rafael (actually in our neighborhood). Something that will give you an extra boost for the day!
Who said ice cream is only for dessert? Fiorello’s Espresso Gelato is a fun way to get your caffeine intake during a lazy Sunday brunch with friends & family. Or if you wish, you can even make your own “Affogato Al Caffe” (we have some recipes for you right here).
Mango Sorbet
Fiorello’s Mango Sorbet is not only sweet and delicious, but it helps clear the palette during full-course meals at summer events like weddings and other formal affairs. Thankfully, this summertime favorite is available all year long from Fiorello’s.
The Mangoes that we carefully selected to make this refreshing flavor are directly imported from South America. We use a very specific variety of mangoes that are recognized for their exceptional taste, which is almost, if not impossible, to find here in the US (Yes, we checked!).
After years of constant research, it took Tony’s relentless efforts to find this specific variety.
Pistachio Gelato
Did you know that we live right next to the heart of pistachio country? The pistachio tree, which originated in Asia, is quite the popular crop in California’s central valley. Here at Fiorello’s, we source only the highest quality pistachios from a particular producer in California for our mouthwatering Pistachio Gelato (and, of course, Fiorello’s signature Tony Spumoni). They’re both perfect fixes for a hot day!
One fun fact: Tony was personally invited by the American Pistachio Growers Association to participate in the Fancy Food Show because they fell in love with his pistachio gelato.
Black Cherry Chip Gelato
Our Black Cherry Chip Gelato is a classic that can’t be ignored! To produce that magnificent flavor we use the best ingredients we can find. This involves selecting high-quality chocolate from a manufacturer that shares our values regarding the quality of the ingredients as well as sourcing our Black Cherries from a small producer in Oregon.
Ever wake up in the middle of the night craving a scoop of Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato? Tony’s go-to midnight snack is a few spoonfuls of our succulent Black Cherry Chip Gelato. It satisfies all the senses while providing a calming effect — legend has it that if you have some Fiorello’s in the middle of the night, you’ll dream of gelato as soon as you fall asleep 🙂
Straciatella Gelato
Stracciatella Gelato is one of the most popular traditional gelato flavors out there. Originally created in Bergamo, northern Italy, it’s typically made by drizzling melted chocolate into Vanilla Gelato at the very end of the churning process, resulting in a delectable chocolate-y note accompanying an already flavorsome base. It’s rich, yet simultaneously refreshing — a perfect afternoon cool down.
At Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato, we try to maintain a high-quality of standards while keeping some Italian traditions alive. This is why we incorporate drizzling melted chocolate instead of using chocolate chips. This method results in delicate flakes of chocolates that melt on your tongue.
Meyer Lemon Sorbet
For the lemonade fans out there (who doesn’t like lemonade?), we present to you our Meyer Lemon Sorbet, a Fiorello’s fan-favorite to beat the heat. Our Meyer Lemon Sorbet contains, as you might guess Meyer Lemon juice. But, why Meyer lemon you might ask yourself?
Meyer lemons and conventional lemons are quite different. Originally produced in China, Meyer Lemons are known for their sweeter taste as opposed to the strong level of acidity you find in conventional lemons.
Concerning the sourcing of our Meyer Lemons, we look no further than here in California.
Enjoy Margaritas? Mix your tequila of choice with a few scoops of our Meyer Lemon Sorbet (add a mint leaf for good measure) and you’ve got yourself a delicious poolside classic — any time of year. See our article on boozy ice cream drinks for more beverage ideas!
The Bottom-line
These 14 Fiorello flavors are just what any ice cream lover needs to make it through the next heat wave.
How many of them have you tried already? Let us know your favorite flavors in the comment section below! And if you liked this article also let us know in the comments so can come up with similar content!
