I received Graeter’s Gelato and A Little Less Indulgent Ice Cream for review. No other incentive was provided and opinions are my own.

Graeter’s is coveted in this house. It is prized, it is savored, and it is the subject of gluttonous, “did you eat the last of the ice cream?” spats. I was first introduced to Graeter’s Ice Cream last winter when they released their newest flavor, Black Cherry Chocolate Chip. After a few email exchanges, a sampling arrived at my doorstep and I was immediately spoiled.

When you try Graeter’s for the first time, you will enter what can only be described as food bliss (well, I did anyway.) When you have it for the second time, especially after it has been a year and a half, you will be in a world of excited indulgence. Back in February 2013, I dared to type that Graeter’s was the best ice cream I ever had. Today, I’m still telling you the same thing, except now we can also add gelato and low fat/low calorie ice cream to that list.

For the first time in Graeter’s 144-year history, they have released two completely new product lines this spring — Graeter’s Gelato and A Little Less Indulgent Ice Cream.

Gelato is a natural transition for Graeter’s, which up to this point had specialized in ice cream only. Their signature French Pot process that makes its ice cream so dense and creamy was based on the Italian gelato machine. This process makes Graeter’s Gelato the most authentic Italian gelato available in the United States. How amazing is that, and how delicious does that sound!?

Using their proven-to-be-astoundingly-delicious old-world freezing process, Graeter’s artisans create their hand-crafted gelato using all natural ingredients (a quality standard that goes into all of Graeter’s products) and specially made truffles from a family-owned candy confectioner in Pennsylvania.

Graeter’s Gelato flavors include Caramel Truffle, Hazelnut Truffle (if you love hazelnut, seriously go find this right now!), Vanilla and Milk Chocolate Truffles, and Dark Chocolate Truffle (though not pictured, this is the third gelato flavor I received. My fiance ate it before I could take its picture).

Whenever I decide it’s time for some ice cream in my life, I never look through the low sugar/low fat offerings in the grocery store freezers. I just never really saw the point. I keep a low sugar diet for the most part and always have to be aware of good sugars vs bad sugars to keep my health in check. So when I am craving the not-so-great-for-you sugars, it’s all about portion control for me.

Graeter’s line of A Little Less Indulgent Ice Cream takes the general apathy and ickiness I have for the low sugar ice cream options out there and turns it upside down, shakes it all up, and delivers something glorious. I was thoroughly impressed with how Graeter’s was able to keep the same level of creaminess as their other ice creams and infuse vibrant and unmistakable flavors that fulfill even the most zealous ice cream cravings. It’s impressive because they were able to achieve this all while keeping sugar, fat, and calorie numbers down at least a quarter of the amount as compared to their original ice cream line across the board.

Instead of leaving sugar out of the mix, or lowering it substantially enough so that it tastes, well, not as good, Graeter’s A Little Less Indulgent sets itself apart from other reduced sugar ice creams by using a natural sugar substitute made from monk fruit extract. The Graeter’s A Little Less Indulgent line — available in Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Chip, and Mint Chocolate Chip — has 50% less sugar, roughly 25% less fat, and 25% fewer calories than the company’s regular ice cream.

Graeter’s new Gelato and A Little Less Indulgent Ice Cream are available at select grocery stores, but available to all online at Graeters.com.