Over 600 flavours available
2009-05-27
Rome - The coming of the heat makes the ice cream consumption rise with over 600 flavours available on the market. In fact we are experiencing the sunset of the "artificial" flavours, like 'smurf', and a rediscovery of the seasonal tastes, made with typical products of the territory, states Coldiretti
A surprise ice cream consumption is concentrated for more than half (53.5 percent) in the North followed by the Southern Italy (28.3 percent) and central Italy (18.1 percent).
In 2009 - said Coldiretti - there has been a proliferation of initiatives aiming to ensure the authenticity of the product starting from the use of locally produced fresh milk instead of low-cost substitutes. The preparation of homemade ice cream, that allows a careful selection of ingredients, from milk to fruit - according to Confartigianato - is growing, along side artisanal ice cream parlours increased by 8,8 percent in 2008 for a total of 35,000.
Other novelties - stresses Coldiretti - are the ice cream made of donkey milk, particularly appreciated for its properties, agro-ice cream parlours offering ice cream made with raw milk, and "zero kilometers" ice cream obtained from local products that should not be transported by energy wasting means or polluting the environment: from Amarone in Veneto to pistachio nut of Bronte in Sicily, from bergamot in Calabria to berries of Cuneo in Piedmont.
The annual consumption of ice cream in Italy - Coldiretti concludes - is estimated in more than 15 kilos per person for a total of 5 billion euros for the purchase of cups, cones, sticks and trays, 60% of which for artisanal and 40% for industrial ice cream.
