Gelato, ice cream or sorbet?
Compare what is knowable from the label, what you can observe in the bowl, and which familiar shortcuts are too absolute.
Use the comparison matrix →Independent British editorial guide
Notice more in every scoop.
London SAM helps curious eaters separate category labels from useful evidence: what ingredients do, why frozen texture changes, and how to describe flavour without turning preference into a verdict.
Choose your route
CompareGelato, ice cream and sorbet
DecodeIngredient information
UnderstandTexture and storage
ObserveA score-free tasting note
A deliberately small library
Four pages. Four different jobs.
A previous version spread closely related questions across many pages. This edition keeps only the routes that can stand on their own and makes the next step clear.
Ingredient information without purity theatre
Move from a long or unfamiliar word to the question that actually matters: function, declared allergen, product claim or personal preference.
Read ingredient information →Why a scoop becomes icy
See the structure inside a frozen dessert, then use a practical decision path for transport, freezer storage and serving.
Follow the texture map →A private tasting notebook
Build a structured note that keeps aroma, melt and flavour development separate from personal liking. Nothing is transmitted or stored.
Open the notebook →A better question changes the answer
Label, observation and assurance are not the same thing.
A menu name can suggest a style. A tasting note can describe perception. Neither proves a recipe, allergen status or production method. London SAM marks those boundaries because confidence should follow the evidence available.
LabelWhat the maker or seller declares.
ObservationWhat you notice in this serving.
AssuranceWhat requires product-specific records or controls.
Editorial boundaries
What you will not find here.
The guide is useful only if it is honest about what it has not established.
No venue rankings
There are no unverified shop visits, opening hours, prices, awards or “best in London” lists.
No allergy clearance
General information cannot determine whether a particular serving is safe for a particular person.
No universal percentage claims
Category names do not prove one fixed recipe, fat level, air content or serving temperature.
Use the guide in under five minutes
Start with the decision you need to make.
- Choosing between styles? Use the comparison matrix and let the product-specific label overrule folklore.
- Confused by an ingredient? Identify the information category before deciding whether it changes your choice.
- Rescuing takeaway gelato? Follow the transport, storage and serving sequence without repeated thawing.
- Comparing two scoops? Record the same sensory dimensions, then write preference separately.