The Real Reason Gelato Spoons Are So Tiny

Tiny spoons seem to be all the rage thanks to oatmeal eaters on TikTok. But the small spoon also has a long tradition with another food — gelato. The frozen dessert, like ice cream, can be served in a cone or cup, and is perfect on a hot summer day. But if one was to get it in the latter container, they might notice that it typically comes with an especially small spoon — almost like the ones used to sample different flavors.

And there's a certain benefit of enjoying a dessert with a smaller spoon, as seen with other desserts such as tiramisu. Small spoons allow the treat to be consumed at a slower pace, and will thus allow the eater to enjoy the dessert for longer (which can also be great if you're a parent teaching your child how to mindfully eat, according to Today's Parent). However, that's not exactly why small gelato spoons were created.

Gelato spoons actually may have a French origin, according to The Takeout. The demitasse spoon comes from French culture, and refers to the tiny utensil used to stir a post-dinner coffee (via The Tea Cup Attic). Thus, the gelato spoon drew inspiration from the small yet simple design, and was created by combining this existing tool with a typical ice cream spoon. The result was a tiny gelato spoon that was cheap and travel-friendly.

Many can also attest that dessert in general tastes better when eaten with a smaller spoon. Epicurious describes eating with a small spoon as giving dessert a "whimsical treatment." Furthermore, having a small spoon can minimize the mess in the instance of a spillage, especially when given to little ones. So as gelato is most often enjoyed as a post-dinner treat this summer, know that gelato spoons' design isn't purely for aesthetics, but also efficiency.