What does granita mean?
Granita is an Italian loanword now used in English for a refreshing, semi-frozen dessert made from finely crushed or shaved ice, sweetened syrup, and flavorings such as fruit, herbs, or coffee; milk may also be included. Its texture is distinctly granular and softer than ordinary ice cubes, giving the dessert its name and its characteristic slushy quality. Common varieties include lemon, mango, watermelon, and coffee granita. On menus, “granita” often appears by itself to mean a fruit-flavored version, while coffee granita is particularly associated with Sicily. Although related to the broader category of shaved ice, granita is generally finer-grained and more flavorful, and it is distinct from gelato, which is a denser dairy-based frozen dessert. The word commonly evokes summer dining, Italian cafés, coastal holidays, and carefully prepared seasonal ingredients.
nounA semi-frozen Italian dessert made from finely crushed ice, sweetened fruit syrup or coffee, and sometimes milk. It is served in a granular, slushy consistency and may be flavored with fruit, herbs, or coffee.
- A semi-frozen dessert of finely crushed ice mixed with sweetened syrup, fruit flavoring, coffee, or sometimes milk.
"They shared a refreshing lemon granita on the sunlit terrace."
"A bowl of blood-orange granita was the perfect refreshment after the long walk."
"The café serves espresso granita with a light, intensely aromatic foam."
The plural is possible but uncommon; the word is often treated as a mass noun when referring to the dessert generally.
"The shop sells granitas in several seasonal flavors."
A Sicilian espresso granita turns coffee and crushed ice into a slushy drink, topped with a frothy cap of coffee.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does granita come from?
Granita was borrowed from Italian, where it names a finely granulated frozen dessert. The Italian word is related to granito, “granite,” and ultimately to Latin granitus, from the Latin root granum, meaning “grain” or “small particle.” The dessert's name reflects the grainy texture produced by finely crushed ice.
How granita is actually used
The word is common in British English and is also used in North America, especially in discussions of Italian food. It normally names the dessert as a whole or a serving, and “a granita” may refer to a particular flavored variety.
Easily confused with granita
Granita is a flavored dessert made from crushed ice, whereas granite is a hard, coarse-grained igneous rock.