About Italian Ice at Rita’s
The term “Italian ice” refers to a frozen dessert made from sweetened fruit juice, water, sugar, and coloring. Rita’s Italian Ice rolled out a limited-edition “Unicorn” flavor this summer.
Popular Flavors and Desserts
Popular flavors at Rita’s include mango, cherry, Swedish Fish, lemon, orange, and watermelon. The "gelati" dessert features a layer of custard topped with Italian ice and more custard.
The Unicorn Flavor Details
The new Unicorn ice has a light purple color. The flavor is described as a sparkly strawberry candy treat topped with edible glitter. Some say it resembles cotton candy mixed with grape bubble gum or a watered-down Skittle, with a subtle candied strawberry taste. Adding edible glitter on top costs extra but provides a fun, magical touch.
Rita’s Italian Ice Background
Rita’s was started in 1984 by Bob Tumolo, a former firefighter from Philadelphia. The business has grown to hundreds of seasonal locations around the country. Italian ice is related to the Italian dessert granita, brought to America by Italian immigrants. The texture comes from crushing ice during freezing.