Sherbet (frozen dessert)

Sherbet, often referred to as sherbert , is a frozen dessert made from water, sugar, a dairy product such as cream or milk, and a flavoring – typically fruit juice or purée, wine, liqueur, and occasionally non-fruit flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, or peppermint. It is similar to, but distinct from sorbet, which lacks dairy.

Rainbow sherbet typically combines three flavors, each in its own color.

Etymology
Sherbet comes from the Persian word Sharbat which is an iced fruit drink. English is the only European language to directly use the Turkish word for this kind of dessert. Originally, the word sherbet was used for a fruity, non-alcoholic drink.

History
Sherbet is derived from the Middle East where it evolved from a sweet drink. It was promoted during World War II as it was made using milk. Cream was in a shortage at the time.

Preparation
Commercially produced sherbet in the United States is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as a frozen product containing one or more optional dairy products. Sorbet, on the other hand, is made with sweetened water and no dairy, similar to Italian ice.

Sherbet was originally made with real fruit, and still may be, instead of imitation flavoring.

In Canada, sherbet is defined as a "frozen food, other than ice cream or ice milk, made from a milk product". A typical Canadian sherbet may contain water, a sweetening agent, fruit or fruit juice, citric or tartaric acids, flavoring preparation, food coloring, sequestering agent(s), and lactose.

Historic recipes
Some early 20th-century American recipes for sherbet added egg white or gelatin, or substituted them for dairy, to get a creamy texture.

The American Kitchen Magazine from 1902 distinguishes "water ices” (such as what is commonly known as Italian ice) from sherbets, explaining that "sherbets are water ices frozen more rapidly, and egg white or gelatin is often added to give a creamy consistency". In one recipe for pineapple sherbet, water may be used in place of milk.

According to The American Produce Review (1913), "Sherbet is a frozen product made from water or milk, egg whites, sugar, lemon juice and flavoring material". A base was made of water, sugar, egg whites, and lemon juice.