How to Determine the Difference Between Sherbet and Sorbet

Sherbet or Sorbet? What exactly is the difference? My husband bought sherbet the other day and thought he was buying multi-flavored sorbet until I enlightened him, but he just assumed that sherbet was the American term for sorbet. Do you know the difference?

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Sherbet
• Sorbet

1. Sorbet is a French word that refers to a fat free water based frozen dessert – not milk based like ice cream - that consists of water, fruit puree or fruit juice, and sweetener, although some people add alcohol and chocolate. The term sorbet is used internationally so don’t worry, there won’t be any confusion when ordering this tasty treat whether you’re in France or the United States. Sorbet comes in a range of flavors like mango, lemon, raspberry, cassis (a fancy word for blackberry), and orange. Some restaurants even serve sorbet in the shell of the fruit used. Have you ever seen lemon sorbet served in half a lemon?
2. So what about sherbet? The term sherbet has different meanings depending on where you are. In the United States, sherbet is a dessert that is similar to sorbet but it is made with milk. Sherbet usually comes in a multi-flavor container with lime, strawberry and orange, and is often used in fruit punch or alcoholic drinks.
3. In Turkey, sherbet is a traditional cold drink prepared with rose hips, cornelian cherries, rose or licorice and a variety of spices. Would you believe that the Turkish even believed that sherbet has healing effects? So much so, that the spices and fruits were grown under the control of pharmacists and doctors in the gardens of the Ottoman Palace. In Turkey, sherbet is thought to increase lactation after child birth, so it is served during celebrations after a woman gives birth.
4. In the United Kingdom, sherbet is a type of candy put in straws - similar to the US version of Pixy Stix - made with fizzy powder. It can also be added to drinks like powdered lemonade. Sherbet in Great Britain is also a lemon flavored boiled sweet that has the fizzy powder inside. The British also have a candy called flying saucers which have edible colored rice paper on the outside, and the sherbet fizzy powder inside. But if you thought that was it with the candy, think again. Sherbet is also used for Sherbet Dips - which is similar to the United States version of Fun Dip - where there is a candy stick and sherbet powder. So when you refer to sherbet in the UK, they’ll probably think you’re talking about candy, not a frozen dessert.

Tips & Warnings

• Here’s a tip: if hear someone refer to Showbiz Sherbet, they aren’t talking about candy or an iced dessert, they’re referring to cocaine.