Limoncello brings back memories of our trip to Sorrento, Italy. We first learned about this sweet, citrus liqueur on an episode of Rick Steves’ Europe and knew we had to try it when visiting the Italian coast.
Since we can’t travel like we want this year (and especially because our Italy trip is cancelled), we’re reliving our travel memories at home through food and drink.
Sfusato Lemons
You could try to make limoncello at home, but it may not come close to the true taste of limoncello from Italy. Special lemons called ‘Sfusato lemons’ or ‘Sfusato d’Amalfi’ or ‘Sfusato Amalfitano’ that grow along the Amalfi Coast are used in the recipe. The difference between these lemons and the ones found in many grocery stores are vastly different in taste.
The average grocery store lemon is typically sour with many seeds, whereas the Sfusato lemon is large, sweet and tart in taste. Some say you could take a bite out of it and it will not taste sour like the lemons at your local grocery store.
Watch this video below for a fun, virtual trip to the Amalfi Coast while learning the process of making limoncello!
Refreshing Cocktails
Many Italians enjoy a shot of limoncello after dinner. You can enjoy a shot of this any time of the year, but it’s a literally refreshing experience on a hot summer’s day. When we tried limoncello in Sorrento it was the lower alcohol content version called ‘Crema di Limoncello‘ (made with cream and sugar). I don’t know if it was the heat of the day but one shot of the creamy version was a quick hit for us!
According to the shopkeeper, he said “the cream version is for the women,” haha! The regular version can have an alcohol content of up to 30% while the creamy one is around 16%.
FYI this is NOT a sponsored post! We just wanted to make some Italian summer cocktails.
Recently we picked up a bottle of Pallini Limoncello and tried a couple of their cocktail recipes.
One of our favorites is the Pallini Iced Tea: 1 1/2 oz Pallini Limoncello, 3 oz cold black tea (sweetened or unsweetened), 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice. Pour all of the ingredients in a glass of crushed ice, stir and enjoy!
Is it Authentic?
I’m sure this recipe can work using any other brand’s limoncello BUT you have to be careful of which brand you buy.
For example, we chose Pallini because it meets the following criteria:
– Sfusato lemons are used in the product (no other type of lemons)
– The lemons are hand picked on location of the Amalfi Coast, processed and distilled in Italy
– The product tastes like fresh, sweet/tart lemons
We recommend Pallini because they meet our criteria for authenticity. They use Sfusato lemons, it’s peeled and zested onsite at the Amalfi Coast, then distilled and bottled in Rome where it’s shipped to customers outside of Italy.
Do Not Buy if:
– Lemons other than Sfusato are used or no clarification on the product’s information says Sfusato lemons are used
– The bottle says Sfusato lemons were shipped and distilled outside of Italy to make the product
Also, if you buy a bottle of limoncello and it tastes like other things besides fresh lemons then it’s probably not authentic.
The Amalfi Coast
This famous Italian coast stretches from Sorrento to Salerno. While we only spent a day in Sorrento, it was a wonderful taste of the Amalfi Coast as it is considered the gateway to this beautiful stretch of coastline.
Dotted with picturesque towns and amazing views from the cliffs, we hope you get to experience it someday. We’d love to return for a longer visit to explore the towns and show Tristan around Sorrento.
Cheers to wonderful travel memories and more to come in the future!
What is your favorite drink experience on your travels? Comment below and share this post!
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