If you love ice cream, you’ll likely also be a fan of gelato.
Like ice cream, gelato is a frozen dessert made with milk and cream, but it also contains less air and more flavorings than ice cream.
These contents make gelato denser and smoother than ice cream, and the flavors are usually more intense.
There are thousands of gelato flavors, so choosing which ones to try can be hard. What you’re able to select will also depend on the specific gelato shop you go to.
But if you want some insight into some of the most popular gelato flavors to choose from, I’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 of the best gelato flavors that you should try out if you want to enjoy this classic Italian dessert.
Lemon
When people think about gelato, they often consider milky, creamy, chocolate- or vanilla-based gelato first and foremost.
And while those are scrumptious (and don’t worry, I’ll get to them soon) lemon gelato is underrated.
Lemon gelato is one of the most refreshing gelato flavors for a hot summer day. I like that lemon gelato perfectly balances tart, sweet, and slightly sour flavors.
People who enjoy sour candy or tart fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges will love this flavor.
Lemon gelato is a nice summertime flavor, but it also is nice in the fall and spring, especially when paired with other seasonal fruits.
Try pairing it with berries in the summer, apples in the fall, or pears in the spring.
The lemon flavor can also be used to cleanse the palate between spicy dishes. This way you can fully experience the flavors of the following dish.
Pistacchio
Pistacchio is one of the most classic and well-loved gelato flavors.
It’s a rich, nutty flavor that is both sweet and savory. Those who enjoy pistachio nuts or other nutty flavors should try this gelato flavor.
I also appreciate pistachio gelato’s light, bright green color because it looks so delightful, especially if you add toppings like chocolate shavings or berries.
This gelato flavor is perfect for any season; you can enjoy it all year round.
Stracciatella
Stracciatella is one of my personal favorite gelato flavors. It’s vanilla gelato with thin, irregular chocolate shavings throughout.
This gelato — originally from Bergamo in Northern Italy — is rich and light, sweet and savory.
The chocolate shavings add a lovely texture to the smooth gelato.
People who like stracciatella soup, which inspired this gelato flavor, will surely enjoy stracciatella gelato.
But if you’ve never tried this soup, you’ll also likely enjoy this flavor if you typically enjoy the classic combination of vanilla and chocolate.
The vanilla flavor is refreshing year-round, and the chocolate shavings give it a holiday-season feel.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu gelato is what I choose for a post-dinner dessert because it’s the perfect balance of coffee, cocoa, and sweetness.
It’s also a rich and flavorful gelato, so a little goes a long way.
This gelato flavor is perfect for tiramisu lovers, coffee lovers, and chocolate lovers. And if you enjoy all three, you’re in for a real treat.
Tiramisu gelato is best enjoyed in the winter and spring when you’re looking for a cozy and comforting dessert.
But if you can’t get enough tiramisu, feel free to enjoy this gelato flavor all year round.
Bacio
Another one of my favorite gelato flavors is bacio, which is a chocolate hazelnut gelato.
This flavor is for those who love Nutella, chocolate, and hazelnuts. It’s a rich and decadent flavor, so it’s perfect for a special treat.
Bacio gelato is also lovely when you can pair it with berries or other fruits in the summertime.
The chocolate hazelnut flavor is a classic combination that never gets old and goes swimmingly with strawberries and raspberries.
Cioccolato
Cioccolato is a unique gelato flavor perfect for special occasions.
It’s a chocolate gelato that incorporates raw cacao powder and chunks of dark chocolate throughout.
This flavor is a must-try for all the chocolate lovers out there.
Because of the chocolate goodness, I enjoy this one after dinnertime meals, specifically on warm spring or summer days.
However, it also pairs well with hot drinks like hot chocolate, coffee, or mulled wine in the fall and winter months.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is a controversial flavor — people usually either love it or hate it, with no in-between.
This debate is likely because dark chocolate is a bold and potent flavor with a high level of bitterness.
But if you’re a huge fan of dark chocolate, you should try this gelato flavor.
If you want to try dark chocolate gelato but are worried about the bitterness, I recommend pairing it with a sweeter gelato like strawberry or raspberry.
The sweetness of the fruit will help balance out the bitterness of the chocolate.
Fragola
Fragola, or strawberry gelato, is a classic gelato flavor that pairs well with other, more rich gelato flavors like dark chocolate.
But this isn’t your typical strawberry ice cream — fragola gelato is made with fresh strawberries, which gives it a more intense flavor.
This gelato flavor is perfect for summertime when strawberries are in season.
But if you can’t get enough of this flavor, enjoy it year-round as a post-meal dessert or — my favorite with fragola — as a late afternoon summer snack.
Because strawberry flavor pairs so well with chocolate, I recommend getting a scoop of fragola alongside a scoop of cioccolato or dark chocolate.
Nocciola
Nocciola, or hazelnut, is a classic gelato flavor that is perfect for nut lovers.
This gelato is made with real hazelnuts and has a very rich and nutty flavor.
Nocciola pairs well with chocolate, coffee, and even fruits like strawberries.
I also like pairing this flavor with other gelato flavors like dark chocolate or stracciatella.
It’s exceptionally rich, so I like to enjoy this gelato flavor after a hearty meal, like steak with mashed potatoes, as it’s a perfect palate cleanser.
Fior di Latte
Fior di latte is a figure of speech that means “flower of milk.”
This gelato flavor is made with fresh cow’s milk and has a very light, delicate flavor.
This quality gelato flavor is a great choice for those looking for something sweet but not too sweet.
I enjoy this fior di latte gelato best in the spring when the weather is starting to warm up, but there’s still a chill in the air.
It’s also lovely in the summertime when you can enjoy it with fresh fruits like peaches and blueberries.
If you’re thinking of pairing this gelato with another flavor in the same cup, I recommend pairing it with a fruity gelato, like fragola or lampone — a raspberry gelato.