There Scratchy is a refreshing drink based on ice and aromas typical of the city of Rome. It is prepared with grated ice to snow to which one or more syrups are added such as black cherry, tamarind, mint, orgeat, coconut, lemon or fruit juices. Impossible to resist the thirst-quenching combination of ice to munch with your teeth and fruity syrup, to be enjoyed first with a spoon and only at the end with a straw. So let’s prepare this mint scratcher together because without her what summer would it be?

Preparation

1

Prepare the ice cubes at least the day before in the freezer, inside the appropriate molds (it will take about 6 to 8 hours before the water freezes).

2

Wash the fruit under running water and dry it with absorbent kitchen paper.

3

Place the cubes inside a blender. Start chopping the ice by starting the blades by giving light and non-continuous pulses to prevent them from being damaged.

4

Continue until you get some ice flakes with a snow effect.

5

Pour the ice into a glass and add the mint syrup according to your taste.

6

Serve the Grattachecca immediately garnished with fresh fruit: in this case strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and mint leaves.

Accessories

• Ice cube molds
• Absorbent kitchen paper
• Mixer
• A glass

Tips and tricks

• We suggest you add red fruit if you are using a sour cherry syrup; try replacing lemon with lime to give a more sparkling flavor.
• Very refreshing, you can also add fresh fruit as an excellent idea for a snack.
• This drink is a great alternative to ice cream; the Grattachecca differs from the granita which is produced with water mixed immediately with syrups or juices and only subsequently put to freeze.
• For those with a sweet tooth, we suggest you try to create these greedy and fresh ones Homemade popsiclesalso very popular with children.

storage

It is recommended to consume immediately the Grattachecca because it must be frozen.

History

The first Roman kiosks appear in Trastevere the last century. At the time it was considered the cheapest version of the dessert for a walk, since the more expensive ice creams were intended for a middle-class clientele.

Its name derives from the verb ‘to scratch’ and from ‘checca’, a term used to identify the large block of ice used to refrigerate food when refrigerators did not yet exist. Now even in Rome there are only a few kiosks that prepare the Grattachecca with ice grated from a single block of ice and not crushed cubes.