Sherbet or Sherbert

A set of terms that for for some countries, such as the U.S. and Australia, the meaning refers to the a frozen dessert. However for those living in the U.K. a Sherbet and a Sherbert have different meanings. To the British, a Sherbet is a powder that causes a fizzing reaction when mixed with a liquid. Consisting of bicarbonate of soda and tartaric acid, a Sherbet powder is used to make a carbonated or "fizzy" type of drink.

A Sherbet or Sherbert that is the frozen mixture contains unsweetened fruit juices and water or milk. Various thickeners, such as egg whites or gelatin are often added before chilling it into a frozen consistency that stiffens this mixture into an ice cream-like dessert. Another food that is often considered to be the same as a Sherbet or Sherbert is a Sorbet. Similarly a sorbet is a frozen mixture made from unsweetened fruit juice. However, a sorbet is lower in fat content than a Sherbet or Sherbert, which is lower in fat than ice cream.