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Talenti Gelato and Sorbetto Review
Summer is a great time to enjoy treats from the freezer. In Florida, cold items are more of a necessity when the heat is ramping up. We had my parents and grandmother over for Memorial Day dinner. I surprised Paul with new gelato by Talenti that is sold at Publix. I allowed my guests to have their choice of chocolate, vanilla, and coconut gelato and raspberry sorbetto. I also served some very festive raspberries and blackberries on a plate at the table to accompany the dessert.
Here are my thoughts about the dessrt: Granted, I know gelato will never taste the same in America that it does in Italy, but I've known it to come close. This just doesn't work for me. When I want gelato, it's cause I want it to be a little better than regular ice cream. Mostly, this just tastes like regular ice cream. The raspberry and coconut almost taste like they have too much extra flavoring. And I have never seen a good fresh raspberry gelato that dark/bright of a color. Usually, it is a bit paler and creamier. My favorite combination of gelato is chocolate and raspberry; so believe me, I've seen my share of light, smooth raspberry gelato. I could never figure out why the vanilla was always softer than the rest and why the chocolate was always harder than the rest. The vanilla melts too quickly, and and the chocolate is too stiff to get out of the container.
I think that the flavor selection of lemon, raspberry, and coconut are rare to find, and if those flavors are super important to you, than the cartons are worth their price. (I paid $3.50 a carton introductory price. Now they are $4 on sale, but are regularly around $7.) But if you've been spoiled by European gelato, it may be best to save those good memories and stick to American ice cream while you're State-side.
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The first flavor I tried was the Belgian Milk Chocolate -- I was in Italy two months ago and this flavor of Talenti was the closest thing I'd found in the US to authentic gelato. SO GOOD. I couldn't wait to try all the other flavors. I've tried Toasted Almond, Vanilla Bean, and Dulce de Leche. Total disappointment. The Almond and Vanilla completely lacked that essential Gelato-ness -- Haagen Dazs would have been just as good if not better. Even more disappointing -- I found the Dulce de Leche to be almost completely inedible -- it tasted like cheap, Kraft bagged caramels. Gag. I actually threw most of it away -- can't remember the last time I threw away ice cream! I'll be buying the milk chocolate again, but I probably won't even be trying the other flavors.
i have to say i am a little dissapointed in this review of talenti for a few different reasons... firstly because you will never be able to actually compare gelato in america with gelato in italy at the same time so you cannot give an objective opinion on which one tastes better not to mention talenti is a mass produced product not individually made every day and as you admitted yourself you did have some poor tasting gelato in italy which completely nullifies your assertion that you should save yourself for gelato in italy... secondly as far as the color of the sorbet and quality the color is pretty close to what a smashed raspberry looks like so i would say that the version you had in italy was probably a cheaper version with more water and other ingredients in it to make it a lighter color... thirdly calling a frozen treat gelato as opposed to ice cream, the only difference between the two should be the consistency the name gelato in itself has nothing to do with the taste but only with the fact that gelato has a lower fat content and higher sugar content making it creamier and sweeter which ties into the reason the chocolate is usually harder than vanilla because where as a vanilla bean has little to no fat chocolate does have an extremely high fat content so when you puree chocolate with cream and freeze it then it will be harder unless you adjust the fat content of the dairy accordingly which almost nobody does
so in conclusion i am not trying to completely bash your review because i agree talenti gelato is not the best gelato i have ever had but i do completely disagree with the reasons you gave for discrediting it because the you never addressed the qualities that make it a gelato while saying it does not deserve to be called a gelato... flavor and quality of ingredients have nothing to do with gelato only to do with if you like it or not
this is my favorite gelato. i love it. my favorite is mint! :) delicous!
I've had dbl choc, belgian choc, vanilla and coconut. It's my favorite right now, I crave this stuff!
I agree with Camila. It's well known sorbetto doesn't have dairy in it. The raspberry sorbetto you reviewed isn't supposed to be creamy. It would be if it were raspberry gelato, to which you are comparing it, or even raspberry sherbet, which is like sorbetto but with some cream or dairy added.
I have tried in two flavors - coconut and double chocolate (or something like that). I really do not think this is a good product at all. It is WAY too sweet and does not resemble gelato at all. The chocolate one was loaded with chocolate chunks, which was not written on the container. The chocolate chunks were of poor quality and had that typically nasty "chalky" taste that chocolate chunks in low-quality ice cream have. The coconut was too sweet and did not have enough coconut flavor. It was also grainy and had little bits of coconut.
I would not mind so much if this company claimed to make ice cream rather than gelato. My parents have lived in Italy for over ten years and I know what good gelato is. I have only seen it replicated ONE time in the USA and this is not even close. This is nothing like real gelato. This company charges way too much money for the product they provide.
To me the best thing about gelato is the delicate flavor and creamy texture. It should have a refreshing quality to it and the flavor should reflect the name. This product is the opposite of that. It is not very creamy, loaded with sugar and so over-flavored that the subtleties are completely lost. I know this is the USA, but that does not mean that there aren't customers out there who want a less sweet, more delicate gelato. I am still searching. Please, if I wanted an "in-your-face" ice cream experience I could get that anywhere.
Hill, is that duplicated experience in America still available? I'd almost travel far and wide for it. Although, I'm very happy traveling to Italy for it myself. You're parents are so lucky to be near such incredibly good food.
This is an inferior brand of ice cream.
I had the "Double Dark" Chocolate and the Caramel Cookie Crunch and found them both to be subpar products.
The chocolate was not especially chocolaty - it just had a weak malted taste. The Caramel had a strange off-taste; maybe it was the powdered milk mentioned above.
The products did not have the dense richness of any local gelato I've had. Gelato is supposed to be very dense with very little air. Talenti seemed to have as much air as any American ice cream, but I can't say with certainty.
It also has lots of ingredients that have no business in a super premium product like this: powdered milk, dextrose, wheat flour, sunflower oil, baking soda, guar gum, corn starch, soy, lecithin.
My wife and I both agreed that one taste of this was enough. This stuff is best forgotten.
I just tried the Talenti almond and pistachio flavors.
Pros: nice packaging and I like the reusable container.
Con: Overwhelming powdered milk flavor. Underwhelming pistachio flavor, almonds tasted stale.
I was so unimpressed I'm not even interested in trying the flavors people say they like. Especially since it's overpriced. I can get pints of local ice cream and gelato cheaper than talenti even when it's on sale.
I didn't try all of the flavors but I've tried most (I work catering part time and we use talenti gelato in one of our deserts).
The vanilla and coconut are good, but in my opinion, not worth the price b/c they do taste like regular ice cream... not that creamy at all.
HOWEVER... the belgium milk chocolate flavor is one of the best things I have ever put in my freaking mouth. jesus... so creamy and other than the authentic atmosphere you might enjoy while eating gelato made in Italy, I would bet that there is nothing better. I'm a huge milk chocolate fan though (not dark).
They have blood orange flavor at my Publix now and a bunch of other new ones lately too. So far nothing has sparked enough interest for me to stray from the belguim milk choc. Save up penny by penny if you have to to try this... its so worth it.
Worst flavor IMO: rasberry sorbet. someone above me said it has too much flavor... thats a good description. its super sweet and super tart.
I went to Italy in 83 and 85, couldn't get enough gelato!! We paid $6.00 US for 3 scoops of gelato and pizzelle cookies. Plus they charge more if you sit down and eat!!!
I got the Talenti Double Dark Chocolate,and it was soooo good!!! I have to hide it from my hubby, way back in the freezer. :) :) :)
I just love Talenti gelatos, so much better than premium ice creams. My favorit is the double dark chocolate and coconut. I have tried the cookie crunch and I didnt care too much for it. I did like the vanilla bean as well and Belgian chocolate. I will keep buying them and recently Publix has them buy 1 get 1 free, I almost died I was so excited LOL
I tried the caramel cookie crunch gelato and it was fantastic. The best thing I've ever gotten from my grocers freezer. I haven't tried the other flavor but this one was a keeper. I got mine at Fresh Fields in Maryland.
I tried the coconut and it's really too sweet, too much sugar!
It does taste like ice cream and not gelato. Your right you'll never get the real taste of gelato in the states.
I've only tried Tahitian Vanilla and was blown away! Worth every calorie, every penny. Tastes fresh, as if it were home made.
Talenti is fantastic and well worth the price for a packaged gelato. My favorite is the Coconut. Compare the taste to other packaged Gelatos and Talenti is a winner. It's not fair to compare Talenti or any other packaged gelato to the real deal!
Well said. I am always puzzled when people compare things that shouldn't be compared, like book versions vs movie versions, and tourist sites in different continents; and in this case packaged gelato meant for worldwide distribution and gelato you get served when you are in Italy. Hello? I met a young Frenchman who disappointedly commented that there is nothing in the US that can compare to anything in Europe. Well, there is nothing in Europe that can compare to the pyramids in Egypt or the temples in India and South America. What a silly remark to have an excuse to feel superior when it merely reveals a lack of sophistication. The intelligent response is to be pleasantly surprised and appreciative that mass-produced packaged gelato like Talenti's can taste very good at all.
The Mediterranean mint was really good. I cant wait to try the other flavors.
The mint must be a new flavor. I don't remember coming across it. Did you mix it with any other flavors--like chocolate or coconut?
I just tried the talenti caribbean coconut gelato and it reminded me of my gorgeous island of puerto rico! It was a lil to pricey but I luved it! Would luv to try the other flavors!
Camila,
You are correct that the Italians have a great way of making a tempting dairy-free treat in sorbetto or sorbet as we pronounce it in America. However, I stand by my opinion about the flavor based on personal experiences with fresh gelato. I have a photo posted on a previous gelato story of some of the best gelato in the world. You will see a slight difference in the color (perhaps not enough to warrant a complaint on my part, so I apologize) and likely the texture as well (although, dishing the gelato out might have helped make the difference clearer). Again, it's my experiences that have shaped my opinion. Some people may think Talenti is the best when comparing their experiences.
The raspberry one is not gelato, it is sorbetto, with no milk. That is why it is such a vibrant color and not as creamy.
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