Italian ice
Granita may refer to Italian ice (also known as granita, granite, slush, Italian water ice, or water ice in areas with large Italian-American populations) is a frozen dessert made by mixing flavorings (typically fruit juices but also coffee and chocolate) with ice. Italian ice, unlike shaved ice products, is very smooth. The flavors are typically mixed into the ice while it is being made rather than being added at the point of sale, a process which is common for the shaved ices. Italian Ice on the other hand is often made from pure water, sugar cane, and natural flavors with a special freeze blending machine technique. Also Italian ice is stored at almost 20 Degrees below freezing and served optimally at 10 or 15 degrees warmer than it is stored. The most common method involves quickly boiling four parts water, with one part sugar, and somewhere between two and three parts juice or pulp source. Home made Granita can be made with a hand blender with this method, but some have had better experience with an ice cream maker.
In Italy, teenagers enjoy mixing lemon granite with their beers.
Italian ice is frequently sold from street stands or at pizzerias as an inexpensive treat.
The most popular brand in America is Luigis Italian Ice.