The Sorrento lemon, one of the best lemons in Italy, gets its name from the town of Sorrento, southern Italy. The whole Amalfi Coast is known for lemons and limoncello, but Sorrento in particular.
Driving on the Amalfi Coast Road, you’ll spot terraces of lemon groves climbing high up the steep cliffs. The lemons produced in this beautiful part of Campania have been prized for centuries for their intense flavour and healthy properties.
By the 1800s, the lemons of the Sorrento Peninsula were renowned for their intense flavour and healthy properties, and the lemons of the Amalfi Coast in particular were being exported as far as America.
The hardworking farmers of the Sorrento Peninsula continued the challenging work of carving out new terraces in the rocky mountainsides and the backbreaking work of carrying the harvests of lemons up and down the stone steps up to the present day.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample these special lemons during your travels on the Sorrento Peninsula. Be sure to try some of the locally made limoncello along the Amalfi Coast and in Sorrento.
In Campania, limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur) is often served very cold in pretty or decorative glasses. Its high alcohol content means you can store it in the freezer and pour it into frosty glasses that have also been chilled. One of the classic glass shapes is tall and skinny with a little handle to hold while you sip the ice cold, lemony liqueur.
Since limoncello is so strongly connected to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, you’ll find many shops selling the liqueur and related products, including candies and a delightful creamy version of limoncello.
Many shops will also offer you a sample, so you can taste the local varieties during your travels until you find the perfect balance of sweetness and the distinctive, tart lemon flavour.
Sorrento – Limoncello curiosity:
Harvesting of the lemons on the Amalfi Coast and around Sorrento happens more than once a year, which means you’ll be able to sample these special lemons during your travels in the area.
The best lemons, however, are harvested from March to late July, so if your travels bring you to the Sorrento Peninsula during this time of year you might even see the harvesting taking place, which is still done by carrying baskets of lemons up and down the ancient stone steps.
Don’t miss: I Giardini di Cataldo in Sorrento are an orchard that’s been producing citrus since the 19th century. In the middle of the lemon grove, they have a shop where you can taste their limoncello, gelato and marmalades.
For a taste of Sorrento at home, try making your own limoncello by following these easy steps.
Sorrento Limoncello – Ingredients:
2 pounds of lemons (roughly 6 to 7 large or about 10 small)
1 quart of pure grain alcohol
5 cups of water
3 cups of sugar
Preparation:
1. Peel the lemons being careful to remove only the zest and not the white pith.
2. Put the lemon zest into a large jar with alcohol and cover. Let sit in a cool spot for about a week.
3. After a week, strain the lemon zest from the alcohol and set aside.
4. Boil water and add the sugar, mixing until it is dissolved, but not bringing to a boil.
5. Stir the sugar syrup mixture into the lemon-infused alcohol.
6. Strain into clean, dry bottles.
7. Serve your limoncello cold from the refrigerator or freezer and enjoy!
FAQs
The whole Amalfi Coast is known for lemons and limoncello, but Sorrento in particular.
Why is Sorrento famous for lemons? ›
The variety was believed to have been a spontaneous mutation found on a femminello lemon tree near Sorrento sometime during the 16th century. Experts note that lemons came to Italy via travelers along the Silk Road, though some believe Jewish immigrants first brought them to the area in the 1st century CE.
Where is the best lemon grove to visit in Sorrento? ›
If you want to walk on the “lemon route”, we can suggest to visit the historic citrus grove “Villanella” in Massa Lubrense. If you're looking for the best panoramic view, we recommend that of the "Grottelle" of Villa Massa in Meta di Sorrento.
What is the difference between Sorrento and Amalfi lemons? ›
The juicy sfusato sorrentino, grown only in Sorrento, is shaped like an American football, while the sfusato amalfitano, with knobby points on both ends, is less juicy but equally aromatic.
Do you drink limoncello straight? ›
Since it's served in a shot glass, we often get the question, “How do I drink it?” While it's up to you whether you shoot it back or sip it, we usually slowly sip it around a table with friends. Drinking limoncello straight (not in a mixed drink) is by far the most common way to drink it.
Where is the birthplace of limoncello? ›
US sources say that it was either invented in Sicily about 100 years ago, or that it was first made on the Amalfi Coast, where several villages and islands claim to be its place of origin.
Can you pick the lemons in Sorrento? ›
Visit our traditional Sorrento citrus grove
You can pick this citrus fruit with its intense scent and you can taste the local limoncello,tasty marmalades orange and lemon with provolone del Monaco , lemon/orange scented olive oil, honey ,biscuits lemon.....
What do lemons symbolize in Italy? ›
Since antiquity, lemon trees have been considered a valuable luxury and a symbol of prosperity. Their fruit is a symbol of the Mediterranean lifestyle, sunny outdoors, blue skies and leafy greens. Lemons' sunny yellow evokes energy, light, warmth.
Why is Amalfi Coast known for lemons? ›
Lemon farming on the Amalfi Coast has been rightly defined as Agricoltura Eroica (Heroic agriculture) because all the cultivation is located on vertical soils, which thin out from the hills of the Lattari Mountains to the sea.
Which part of Sorrento is best? ›
There are three main areas worth staying in during your visit to Sorrento. Piazza Tasso, nestled in the heart of the town, Marina Piccola, the buzzing port for Sorrento's sea travel, and Marina Grande, an idyllic coastal area detached from the town's center.
Sorrento Lemons. Sorrento Lemons are locally selected forms of the Feminello variety. These selections are sometimes known as 'Ovale di Sorrento' and 'Sfusato Amalfitano', although the grower I spoke to only knew his lemons as Feminello.
What fruit is the Amalfi Coast famous for? ›
The lemon is probably the symbol par excellence of the Amalfi Coast in the world. The reason is simple: this citrus fruit, in its "Sfusato Amalfitano" variant, is typical of this area to the point that it has been recognized with the prestigious PGI mark, that is, Protected Geographical Indication.
Can you eat the skin of the Amalfi lemon? ›
This world famous lemon is grown in the Amalfi region of Italy and is known as the most aromatic lemon in the world! The Amalfi lemon is sweeter than a regular lemon and has an untreated, edible skin, which is why it's the perfect lemon for an authentic Limoncello..
Why are Sicilian lemons better? ›
The island of Sicily
Past and present volcanic eruptions have made the soil incredibly rich and fertile, which is also responsible for giving Sicilian lemons their wonderfully distinct and unique taste.
Where is the Lemoncello factory in Italy? ›
Explore a 150-year-old Limoncello factory and learn all about the sweet, Italian liqueur. Discover the history and artistry behind the famous drink produced right here in Sorrento.
Is Positano known for limoncello? ›
The Amalfi coast is famous for its large, juicy lemons, and you can purchase them online from Dolce Mediterraneo. In conclusion, Limoncello is a delicious and refreshing drink that's a must-try when visiting Positano.
Why is D Amalfi limoncello so expensive? ›
British designer Stuart Hughes, known for customizing luxury items, crafted the bottle. He adorned its neck with three 13-carat diamonds and its body with a central 18.5-carat diamond. Inside the bottle, there's limoncello, a traditional lemon-flavored liqueur infused with lemon peels from the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
Driving on the Amalfi Coast Road, you’ll spot terraces of lemon groves climbing high up the steep cliffs. The lemons produced in this beautiful part of Campania have been prized for centuries for their intense flavour and healthy properties.
