Sherbet (frozen dessert)

Sherbet (), sometimes referred to as sherbert (), is a frozen dessert made from water, sugar, a dairy product such as cream or milk, and a flavoring – typically fruit juice or purée, wine, liqueur, or occasionally non-fruit flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, or peppermint. It is similar to, but distinct from, sorbet, which lacks dairy. Sherbet has 1%–2% milkfat, much less than ice cream.

Etymology

Sherbet is borrowed from the Turkish word şerbet or Persian word sharbat which in turn both derive from the Arabic word sharba. Originally, the English borrowing sherbet was used for a fruity, non-alcoholic drink.

History

Sherbet is evolved from the Middle Eastern drink sherbet or sharbat. After refrigeration developed, a frozen form of the drink evolved into a dessert with mixing of ingredients. This was promoted during World War II, as it was made using milk; cream was in a shortage at the time.

Rainbow sherbet, a flavor of sherbet consisting of three different flavors of different colors, was invented in the 1950s at Sealtest Dairy in Pennsylvania, after an employee invented a nozzle that would release three different flavors simultaneously. The combination of flavors varies; Anna Hezel, writing for Bon Appétit, describes a combination of orange, lime, and raspberry, while Baskin-Robbins sells a version with orange, raspberry, and pineapple.