Sorbet - cold drink or semi-frozen dessert?

The form of preparation of the drink also originates from the Middle East. It was served there only on special festive occasions. In Turkey, for example, sorbet was introduced at banquets as a small refreshment between several courses, but it later became an everyday drink based on fruit syrup.

In the 17th century in France, sorbet was a drink made of water, sugar and lemon. It was not until the end of the 19th century that it was described in an Austrian dictionary as a semi-frozen dish made from fruit with added wine, which was served in glasses before the main course.

In the German dictionary of the Brothers Grimm, however, sorbet is still described in 1905 as a "sweet cooling drink in the Turkish and Persian style".