Today we want to share a popular Italian liquor. Italy, for the longest time, has reigned as the top producer of wine globally. In turn, the country has become famous for its liqueurs. Some popular Italian liqueurs are anise, orange, cherry, hazelnut, lemon, bergamot, herbal, and almond.
Italian liqueurs are crucial additions to any meal. The Italian culinary scene has two primary types of liqueurs: aperitivo and digestivo. The aperitivo is primarily taken before eating a main meal, mostly dinner. It’s a lower-alcohol liqueur and has a bitter taste. It acts as an appetiser and is served together with salty snacks.
The digestivo has a higher alcohol content and helps in digestion. Dolceterra’s famous Italian limoncello liqueur features the best collection of Limoncello from Italy, which is a digestivo liqueur.
Italians also use liqueurs in making desserts. Some famous Italian desserts featuring liqueurs as ingredients are tiramisù and Zuppa Inglese. Locals from Italy also have the culture of adding some liqueur to their after-dinner coffee.
Popular Italian Lemon Liqueur
Limoncello is a famous Italian lemon liqueur which dates back to the 1900s. It’s assumed to originate from Southern Italy. The liqueur is a cocktail of velvety sugar, spirituous spice and tart citrus acidity. The alcohol percentage of Limoncello ranges from 26 to 32%, making it a digestivo liqueur.
The limoncello liqueur is made from the Sfusato and Sorrento lemon varieties peels. The Sorrento lemons are less acidic and bigger compared to the Sfusato lemons. Despite the differences, the two varieties are the main ingredients in making the Limoncello.
The intense lemon-flavoured drink can be taken as a drink or ingredient for a recipe. Limoncello is very popular on the Amalfi Coast. It’s taken with every meal and sold in every shop. Apart from lemons, Limoncello is made using neutral alcohol: grappa, vodka or spirit.
How to Drink Limoncello
The italian traditional liqueur limoncello with lemon
Drinking Limoncello correctly ensures you enjoy the lemon flavours of the drink.
Limoncello Cocktails
Most Italians take Limoncello as shots, and it’s rarely laced in cocktails. Nevertheless, Limoncello’s zingy lemon flavour makes it an ideal drink mixer. It has a distinctive yellow colouring and can be used in the following renowned cocktail recipes:
- Limoncello Mojito: The ingredients used are Limoncello, lime juice, mint, simple syrup, soda water and white rum.
- Limoncello Spritz: The ingredients used are Limoncello, soda water and sparkling wine.
- Limoncello Martini: The ingredients used are Limoncello, simple syrup, vodka and lemon juice.
Limoncello as a Digestivo
The most common way of drinking Limoncello is after a meal, which helps digestion. It should be served chilled. Ideally, one should store the drink in the freezer before serving. The drink is traditionally served in chilled ceramic cups, shot glasses or short-stemmed glasses.
As a Dessert Accompaniment
You can enjoy Limoncello with your favourite dessert. It can be an after-meal dessert or a personal treat if you have a sweet tooth. It’ll elevate your culinary experience by enhancing the dessert’s flavours. You can take Limoncello with fruit salads.
Conclusion
Limoncello remains one of the most famous traditional and popular Italian popular Italian liquor. The culinary gem dates back to more than a decade. Apart from helping digestion, it elevates the flavours of desserts and fruit salads. You can also enjoy the drink as a cocktail featuring other beverages.
