Lemon Foam

Lemon foam is a variety of granita, made from water, sugar, and fruit juice. This quintessentially Sicilian dessert is often confused with sorbet, but it is granita that is considered the forerunner of both sorbet and ice cream. Its origins are linked to the arrival of the Arabs in Sicily, who brought with them the recipe for Sharbat (a cold fruit drink). To make it, they used snow gathered from the mountains. It was stored in caves in special stone vessels, where the snow would turn to ice. It was then scraped and drizzled with fruit or flower syrup.

In the 16th century, a wooden tub with a zinc vessel inside began to be used for making granita. Snow mixed with sea salt was used to chill the mixture. The zinc vessel was rotated by means of an attached handle, which prevented large chunks of ice from forming. This refreshing treat has survived to our own day. It is usually served in clear glasses. Despite the wide variety of flavours available, lemon remains the most beloved, and it features in the traditional Sicilian breakfast known as Câ brioscia, which is always accompanied by the classic Sicilian brioche bun.