What Is Spumoni And How Does It Differ From Neapolitan Ice Cream?
Ice cream aficionados pride themselves on their knowledge of the frozen dessert, such as the fact that there is a difference between gelato and ice cream. But that's beginner-level knowledge. Here's a matter of ice cream trivia that might break your brain a bit: what, exactly, is spumoni? And how is it related to its similarly-Italian-named cousin of Neapolitan ice cream?
Simply put, spumoni and Neapolitan both utilize three flavors of ice cream or gelato in the same container. But that's where the similarities end. Spumoni is a dessert unto itself, with vertical layers of gelato that are interspersed with candied fruit, pieces of chopped nuts, and/or chocolate chunks. Traditionally, the three flavors of spumoni are chocolate, cherry, and pistachio. When sliced, you typically get a bit of everything. On the other hand, Neapolitan ice cream is chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream arranged side-by-side in the carton. When served, you can choose one flavor or all three in one creamy scoop.
Both spumoni and Neapolitan have Italian roots, but that's it
While the world's most expensive ice cream contains truffles and gold flake and retails for about $7,000 a scoop, both spumoni and Neapolitan ice cream were intended for the hoi polloi. Spumoni came first. Invented in the 19th century, spumoni's name comes from "spuma," the Italian word for foam. Historically, whipped cream was mixed into the gelato base of spumoni to make it deliciously light and fluffy. Some spumoni preparations substitute vanilla for the chocolate gelato, making spumoni the same red, white, and green colors of the Italian flag. Slices of spumoni are also often adorned with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
On the other hand, Neapolitan ice cream was born in the United States, where it was the product of Italian immigrants. They were admittedly inspired by spumoni and other Italian layered desserts, as well as the Italian city of Naples, which led to the name of the treat. Over the years, Neapolitan ice cream became an American favorite. Spumoni, however, remains closely tied to Italian food and culture. Despite having some (rather tenuous) common roots, spumoni and Neapolitan ice cream aren't really all that similar at all.