With Summer just around the corner, everyone will be craving some frozen dessert delights to sweeten up the Summer months. One type ice cream that has gained popularity is gelato. Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, which is derived from the Latin word ‘gelātus’ meaning frozen.
Gelato is made with milk, cream, various sugars and flavouring such as fresh fruit and nut purees. Gelato is mixed at a slower speed than ice cream, thus it is denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. While ice cream is typically served frozen, gelato is typically stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature, so it is not completely frozen. Since there is not as much fat in gelato, it does not coat the mouth in the same way as ice cream does, therefore making the flavours more intense and richer.
When it comes to selling gelato in retail stores, Liquid Concepts are the South African go-to company that offers all the solutions needed to sell the perfect in-store gelato to your customers. Imported from Italy, Liquid Concepts offers PreGel. PreGel is an imported supply of artisanal Italian products able to combine the highest quality with constant innovation in the Gelato, Confectionery and Catering sectors, continuing to firmly sustain the development of the market of Artisanal Gelato all over the world. The PreGel range of flavours vary from green apple to white chocolate truffle including chocolate hazelnut, pistachio, milky chocolate, wild strawberry and lemon sorbet. Traditional gelato flavours include cream, custard, vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio, lemon, raspberry, strawberry and peach.
Liquid Concept’s current Pick n Pay partners have taken on and believed in the frozen yoghurt and gelato trend and thus have had massive success. Liquid Concepts encourages anyone that shares this passion to contact them in order to see if this concept will work for you. Liquid Concepts, as a company will set the full concept up from head to toe including training, product, machinery and most importantly support.
For more information about Liquid Concepts and their offering, contact their Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban branches at www.liquidconcepts.co.za or email them at info@liquidconcepts.co.za.
Gelato Display Designs:
While gelato should always be consumed and never wasted, it is important to understand the artisanal gelato experience! Gelato is not only an Italian ice cream but an art form expressed through food. From the classic waves that are created, to spatulart, and an array of toppings and garnishes, the physical beauty gelato creates is just as important to gelato makers as the taste. 
Spatulart is a flat handheld tool that shapes gelato into various patterns that include shapes, rows and grooves. While toppings can also add color and flavor, they are also a great tool for creating specific designs. Toppings can be drizzled or carefully applied to leave lines, swirls and patterns on gelato. The finishing touches of artisanal gelato lie within the garnish. It can be used to dress up an already beautifully sculpted gelato or add that extra pop of colour. Fruit flavor gelatos are generally decorated with actual pieces of the fruit. For example strawberry flavoured gelato would usually be swirled and decorated with cut out pieces of strawberries.
Gelato Flavour Combos – 2 is better than 1:
In Italy, gelato is generally served with two flavour combinations side-by-side; however gelato makers are creating hybrid flavours. Research has found that many flavors complement each other when combined and create a new, intense flavour. Some of the most popular combos include: Praline hazelnut, banana caramel, raspberry chocolate, strawberry and cream, strawberry banana, chocolate peanut, cinnamon hazelnut, chocolate cappuccino, banana walnut, chocolate cherry, peach mango and mint chocolate.
How Gelato is frozen:
According to Liquid Concepts, gelato is made in a batch freezer (gelato making machine) and comes out at a softer texture in which in that time one decorates and prepares the design. Gelato is about buying with your eyes and coming back for the taste. It is then blasted frozen in a shock blast freezer at -40 degrees to maintain the design and texture and is then put in a display fridge at -16 degrees, which is the temperature the gelato is best served at. It is suggested that each night you take the gelato pan out of the showcase, wrap in plastic and blasted over night to maintain highest level of texture, taste and presentation.
With the incredible texture and taste of Italians famous ice cream and the great move toward this trend in South Africa, it is highly suggested that retail stores install gelato offerings within their stores especially for Summer. Contact Liquid Concepts and find out just how easy and beneficial it will be for your retail store to offer gelato treats to your customer base.