Italian ice typically has a smoother texture, and may initially remind you of other scoopable treats like sorbet and sherbet.

Shaved ice commonly begins with the ingredient in its name — frozen water — that's crushed or shaved, then flavored to ordered with syrup. More sorbet than slushie, Italian ice is fully mixed ...

Granita is an Italian shaved ice food similar to the Japanese kakigori or Puerto Rican piragua. Rather than using flavored syrup, granita relies on freezing and then shaving fresh ingredients ...