Italy Panorama

Many visitors to Italy during the summer months comment on the lack of ice that is served with beverages. This especially noticeable to Americans who are used to large glasses of cold tea or soda filled to the top with ice cubes. In Italy you will be hard pressed to find this, if you want some ice in your drink you will need to ask for it, “un po di ghiaccio, perfavore”. You will also be hard pressed to find an ice machine or especially bags of ice to buy. Italians just don’t like ice in their drinks, unless…

In the hottest part of the summer you may be offered ice, without asking, when you order a digestivo. This is a strong drink taken in small quantities that is made of herbs and is known as a “bitter”, a national favorite being Amaro Lucano from Basilicata.

You may also find Italians in the afternoon putting ice in their vino bianco. First they fill their glass with ice to cool the glass then pour the vino over the ice. With the summer  heat at its highest in August many want their vino cold.

A popular type of café in the summer is café freddo, simply coffee that has been made and then kept cold in the refrigerator. You just make a pot of moka and once it cools pour it into a container to keep in the frigo to enjoy on a hot afternoon. It is not uncommon to see bars making café in the morning and the pouring it into an old wine bottle to store in the frigo.

So the stories you hear about Italians never using ice are a myth, at least partially.