Frozen Drink Machine

Granita (in Italian also granita siciliana) is a semi-frozen dessert of sugar, water, and flavorings originally from Sicily, although available all over Italy. Related to sorbet and italian ice, in most of Sicily it has a coarser, more crystalline texture. Food writer Jeffrey Steingarten says that "the desired texture seems to vary from city to city" on the island; on the west coast and in Palermo, it is at its chunkiest, and in the east it is nearly as smooth as sorbet. (Steingarten 371) This is largely the result of different freezing techniques: the smoother types are produced in a gelato machine, while the coarser varieties are frozen with only occasional agitation, then scraped or shaved to produce separated crystals.

Common and traditional flavoring ingredients include lemon juice, mandarin oranges, jasmine, coffee, almonds, mint, and when in season wild strawberries and black mulberries. Chocolate granitas have a tradition in the city of Catania and, according to Steingarten, nowhere else in Sicily. The nuances of the Sicilian ingredients are important to the flavor of the finished granita: Sicilian lemons are a less acidic, more floral variety similar to Meyer lemons, while the almonds used contain some number of bitter almonds, crucial to the signature almond flavor.

Granita with coffee is very common in the city of Messina, while granita with almonds is popular in the city of Catania. Granita in combination with a yeast pastry called brioche is a common breakfast in summer time. (The Sicilian brioche is generally flatter and wider than the French version.)

Granita is often found served as a slush-type drink rather than a dessert, in a paper or plastic cup with a plastic lid and a straw (often a spoon straw).

Slush is a blend of water, flavored syrup, and ice. Popular slush beverage flavors include strawberry, blue raspberry, creme soda, grape, cherry, and lemon-lime. Slush beverages, which go by a number of names depending on the region, are usually found at gas stations, convenience stores and ice cream stands, such as Dairy Queen. At some locations, they are sold out of a self-serve slush beverage machine, where the consumer can mix flavors as they wish. Brands of slush beverages include ICEE, Slush Puppie and Slurpee. A slightly carbonated version is available from outlets in the UK, mostly at theme parks.

Usually slush drinks are made by an expensive machine, which is able to produce the product almost instantly. It can also be made with the usual household machinery but it takes some time (12+ hours) to complete a smooth variety. Tastes vary widely, just like ice or other sweets. Some like to call slush drinks "slushies". As with many cold beverages, brain freeze can occur when drunk too fast.

Most every slush or slushie is made with carbonation. Many slurpees and slushes can be found in popular gas stations, like 7-Eleven, or high traffic truck stops. These cold drinks all contain carbonation which give it its flavor and texture. Just like soda, it makes it not taste flat.

There are a small selection of slushes that are non-carbonated. For example, Slush Puppie Plus combines the original, non-carbonated slush beverage teens crave, plus meets selected nutritional requirements.

Slushies made from scratch can also contain alcohol. It is possible to make a slushy from an ordinary beverage by simply freezing it overnight and then thawing it at room temperature until it becomes slush.