Water ice is a summer staple in Philadelphia that is truly ubiquitous in every neighborhood and suburb and has to be enjoyed at least once to round out the season, writes Emily Kovach for PA Eats.

Water ice came to Philadelphia with Italians, many of whom arrived in the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It comes from Granita, a traditional Sicilian dessert created from water, sugar, and flavorings. The liquid is agitated and scraped as it freezes so that it forms fine crystals instead of a solid block.

In America, the dessert became known as Italian Ice. In Philadelphia, it was dubbed water ice.

Each spring, when water ice stands start popping up, devotees start showing up in droves. Some of the biggest chains based around water ice have their home in Philadelphia.

For example, Rita’s, which has more than 500 locations throughout the country, was founded by former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo in 1984.

D’Emilio’s Old World Ice Treats, Dati’s Water Ice, and Mama Maria’s Homemade Italian Ice are some of the local spots where you can enjoy this popular sweet.

Read more about water ice in PA Eats.

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