Is Philly water ice the same as Italian ice? No, and here's why
This article, originally published in June 2019, was updated in June 2025.
Fans of the podcast "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce" recently discovered another 'uniquely Philly' passion of Kelce's: water ice.
'WTF is water ice? Are we talking about snow cones?' asked YouTube viewer @treysullivan9248. Kelce, like any true Philadelphian, aggressively but understandably, clarified: 'No, Trey! We are not talking about snow cones!'
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Kelce — media personality, podcast host, and wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce — went on to say that water ice is a Philadelphia summer staple that's basically frozen sugar water. "You can't go wrong with it,' she said. What is Philly-style water ice?
Philly kids love their Philadelphia water ice – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith
Most similar to a fresh fruit slushie, water ice has been Philadelphia's favorite summer treat for generations. Each spring, as the weather starts to warm up and hint at summer, we celebrate with our favorite seasonal treat.
Moms line up with their kids at their favorite water ice stands. Excited children study the freezer full of colorful tubs. One asks, "Can I have strawberry on the bottom and mango on top?' The teenager behind the counter happily obliges, filling the bottom half of the plastic cup with an icy strawberry mixture and topping it off with another pale-yellow scoop.
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While Philadelphians have been enjoying water ice for generations, the consumption of ice and fruit combinations goes back a couple of thousand years to ancient Sicily (and can be traced even further back to Asia, Persia, and Mesopotamia).
To beat the summer heat, according to food historian Liz Williams, ancient Sicilians devised creative means to both refresh and delight. Long before the invention of coolers and refrigeration, the people of Sicily were ingeniously experimenting with ice. Runners were sent up the almost 11,000-foot Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, to collect snow and ice that could be combined with lemons, limes, and other fresh fruits to create a cool and refreshing summer treat.
Over the years, Sicilians mastered a method of storing the ice in caverns beneath the volcano before transporting it to other parts of Italy. As they did so, the practice of mixing ice and fruit, known as granita, spread throughout Italy. Different regions developed their own versions of the fruit and ice combination, as well as sorbets and gelato.
Fast forward some 2,000 years to the early 1900s, at the peak of Italian immigration to the United States. Approximately 2 million Italians immigrated here at that time, the majority coming from Southern Italy with hopes of escaping the intense poverty back home.
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Men and women looked for creative ways — like peddling granita — to make money while establishing themselves and seeking employment. Just as the different regions of Italy developed different versions of granita over the years, American cities with high concentrations of Italians, especially Sicilians, began developing their versions. How do you serve Philadelphia water ice?
Traditional water ice (pronounced "wooder ice" with the local accent) is made with three simple ingredients: fresh fruit, sugar and water. While it was once made by hand, today the ingredients are combined in a metal, cylindrical machine. A mixer inside the metal barrel rotates and scrapes the edges as the mixture begins to freeze and stick to the walls. After reaching the correct consistency, the water ice is transferred into tubs and served up fresh. Where is Philadelphia water ice made?
Enjoy a refreshing treat at John's Water Ice – Photo courtesy of Kae Lani Palmisano
As water ice has grown in popularity, new stands and mass-produced water ice franchises have popped up. Kids especially love Rita's Water Ice, a chain now available in over 30 states. Two of Philadelphia's most beloved water ice stands are John's Water Ice and Pop's Homemade Water Ice.
John Cardullo, founder of John's Water Ice, owned a diner in the heart of South Philly's Italian Market neighborhood and often served water ice as a dessert. In 1945, as the water ice grew in popularity, he decided to close the diner, turn it into office space for his heating repair company, and open a simple water ice stand next door.
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The two seasonal businesses provided Cardullo with steady income in both winter and summer. John's Water Ice still operates out of this original location on Christian Street, with a second location in Huntingdon Valley.
Filippo Italiano of Pop's Homemade Water Ice sold his homemade Italian water ice from a cart he pushed around the neighborhood. As word of his refreshing treat spread, children and families began lining up outside his garage waiting for him to open.
Since he lived across the street from an urban park, Italiano realized he was well-known enough to quit lugging his heavy cart around in the heat and let people come to him instead. In 1932, he converted his garage into a storefront. Decades later, his grandchildren still serve water ice out of this same location.
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If you're visiting Philadelphia, head over to one of the mom-and-pop stands where you know you'll be met with the tastiest and most authentic Philadelphia water ice experience. Just be prepared, as many are cash only.
John's is easily walkable from the Liberty Bell and Center City, while Pop's is located right off the Broad Street Line subway, a perfect place to stop before or after a Phillies game.
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