The frozen dessert traditionally scraped into crystals rather than churned is granita.
Granita is a semi-frozen Sicilian dessert made from water, sugar and flavorings such as lemon, coffee or almond. As the mixture freezes, it is stirred or scraped to break up ice crystals. This produces a coarse, crystalline texture that distinguishes granita from smooth gelato and ice cream.
Granita varies in texture by region and recipe. Some versions are relatively coarse, while others are smoother and closer to a sorbet. It is also served at different times of day, including breakfast in parts of Sicily, sometimes with brioche. Its defining feature is the scraped crystal structure, not a single mandatory flavor.