Wiki Article
Limoncello
Nguồn dữ liệu từ Wikipedia, hiển thị bởi DefZone.Net
 Homemade limoncello | |
| Type | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Main ingredients | Water, lemon zest, rectified spirit, sugar |
Limoncello (Italian: [limonˈtʃɛlːo]) is a traditional lemon liqueur produced mainly in Southern Italy, especially around the Gulf of Naples, the Gulf of Salerno, as well as in Sicily and in Gargano. It is the second-most popular liqueur in Italy and is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestif. It is also a popular homemade liqueur, with various recipes available online and in print.
Limoncello is made from the zest of lemons and usually has a slightly turbid appearance, which originates from suspended small essential oil droplets.
History
[edit]The exact origin of limoncello is disputed. The industry trade group Federazione Italiana Industriali Produttori Esportatori ed Importatori di Vini, Acquaviti, Liquori, Sciroppi, Aceti ed affini says that limoncello was created at the beginning of the 1900s by the grandmother of Maria Antonia Farace, who lived in a small guesthouse in Isola Azzurra.[1] According to Charles Perry of the Los Angeles Times, limoncello was invented in Sicily about 100 years ago.[2] Journalist Kristen Tillotson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says that it was first made on the Amalfi coast, where several villages and islands claim to be its place of origin. It may have been invented by a citrus-grove tender from Azzurra around 1900 or it may have been invented by monks or fishermen much earlier.[3]
Production
[edit]
Limoncello is mainly produced in southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Gargano.[4]
Traditionally, limoncello is made from the zest of Femminello St. Teresa lemons, also known as Sorrento or Sfusato lemons.[2][5] Lemon zest, or peel without the pith, is steeped in rectified spirit until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with simple syrup. Varying the sugar-to-water ratio and the temperature affects the clarity, viscosity, and flavor. It has a slightly turbid appearance, which originates from the presence of small (approximately 100 nanometers) essential oil droplets suspended in the drink. Opaque limoncello is the result of spontaneous emulsification (otherwise known as the ouzo effect) of the sugar syrup and extracted lemon oils.[6]
Commercial production was about 15 million liters in 2003.[6]
Popularity
[edit]
Limoncello is the second-most popular liqueur in Italy after Campari.[5]
Serving
[edit]Limoncello is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestif.[7]
A Ligurian Riviera spritz is limoncello mixed with prosecco or diet tonic water. An Amalfi spritz, so named because limoncello originates from the Amalfi Coast, is made by mixing lemonade soda water with limoncello.[8]
Alcohol content
[edit]Alcohol content can vary widely, especially among homemade variants, but the typical alcohol content is about 30% (+/−3%) by volume.[6]
Variants
[edit]Many variations of limoncello are also available. These include arancello (flavored with oranges), agrumello (flavored with mixed citrus), pistachiocello (flavored with pistachio nuts), meloncello (flavored with cantaloupe), and fragoncello (flavored with strawberry). A version made with milk instead of simple syrup also exists, known as crema di limoncello, and is often less alcoholic, at around 17% alcohol content by volume.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
| Variant | Ingredient | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arancello | Orange | Has a sweeter, softer taste; sometimes called orangecello |
| Limecello | Lime zest | Sharper, slightly more bitter twist |
| Mandarincello | Mandarins or tangerines | Milder, more delicate liqueur |
| Pompelmocello/pomecello | Grapefruit zest | Adds bitterness and complexity |
| Raspicello | Raspberries | Vibrant color and fragrant, fruity taste |
| Kiwicello/mangocello/peachcello | Kiwi, mango, peach | Infuses sweetness and distinctive fruitiness. Kiwicello is sometimes sweetened with honey. |
| Orange cinnamon | Orange zest and cinnamon sticks | Spiced, wintery profile |
| Zenzerino | Ginger | Spicy, warming liqueur |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Breve storia del Limoncello". Federazione Italiana Industriali Produttori Esportatori ed Importatori di Vini, Acquaviti, Liquori, Sciroppi, Aceti ed affini (in Italian). 5 May 2010.
- ^ a b Perry, Charles (September 8, 2004). "Taste of a thousand lemons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
- ^ Tillotson, Kristin (July 3, 2008). "Limoncello Citrus Liqueur Recipe Is Far From Lemonade". The Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
- ^ Romeo, Claudia (2 October 2019). "How traditional Limoncello is made in Italy". Insider.
- ^ a b Cain, Jayne (2011). "When Life Gives Italians Lemons, They Make Limoncello". Rick Steves' Europe. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Chiappisi, Leonardo; Grillo, Isabelle (2018-11-30). "Looking into Limoncello: The Structure of the Italian Liquor Revealed by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering". ACS Omega. 3 (11): 15407–15415. doi:10.1021/acsomega.8b01858. ISSN 2470-1343. PMC 6644077. PMID 31458197.
- ^ Redden, Claire (May 9, 2025). "Here's How To Drink Limoncello Like A True Italian". tastingtable.com. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ Spurr, Roger (2023-06-11). "Easy Limoncello Spritz Cocktail Recipe". The Home Cocktail Club. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
- ^ Peak, Bob. "Four 'Cellos". WineMakerMag.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Andy (2020-03-15). "Limoncello, Arancello, all the cellos". Hook Rifle & Spade. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Staalduinen, Joris van (2018-12-04). "Variations on the classic Limoncello". Liquore d'Ollanda (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Homemade Limoncello + Variations". Instructables. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Limoncello Variations". Papawow. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Sisters, Salvation. "A Trio of Fruit Liqueurs: Limoncello, Fragolino and Frambolino". Retrieved 2025-07-22.
Further reading
[edit]- Dixon, Rachel (30 October 2024). "'It knocks your head off!' How limoncello became a sudden, surprising, soaring success". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Limoncello at Wikimedia Commons
