What Is Limoncello and How Is It Made? (2024)

FAQs

What is limoncello made of? ›

Limoncello is made from lemon zest. It has a sweet and slightly zingy flavor and is generally produced in the southern areas of Italy. This includes the Amalfi coast, the Bay of Naples and even Sicily.

Limoncello on its own is categorized as a digestif liqueur, meaning it's meant to be sipped on its own after a meal to aid in digestion. This is how limoncello is commonly used in Italy—after a meal, people stay at the table, either after dessert or during dessert, sharing limoncello and toasting to good health.

Limoncello, in case you didn't know, is a traditional Italian lemon liqueur that's made from infusing lemon peel in vodka. It typically has an intense lemon flavor.

Limoncello is best enjoyed when consumed slowly. This allows you to fully appreciate the intricate flavours imparted by the lemon zest. Whether served in a shot glass, a small stemmed glass, or a ceramic cup, take your time to savour each sip.

Sfoodie pointed out that the ban dated back to “a Prohibition-era law banned bars from creating infusions, allowing the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to ticket barkeeps for serving sangria, limoncello, and fruit-flavored tequilas — basically any drink where a bar has altered the alcohol content ...

Limoncello is an Italian liqueur made from lemon zest. It's mainly produced in Southern Italy, particularly in Sorrento, Capri, and along the Amalfi Coast. Traditionally, limoncello is made with Femminello St. Teresa lemons, a vibrant lemon variety native to the Sorrento Peninsula of Italy.

Limoncello has about a 30% alcohol content so while it may jump start your digestive enzymes, it will also get you DRUNK.

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.

The high alcohol content of limoncello generally inhibits the growth of bacteria, making them unlikely to flourish. However, improper storage or contamination during the manufacturing process can potentially lead to the growth of bacteria. It is therefore important to follow proper hygiene and storage practices.

Limoncello and its ingredient pairings

Its dominant orange, lemon and citrus aromas can be paired with grapefruit, mango, black currant, blueberries, ginger, cinnamon, cheddar and triple sec.

Does limoncello go bad? ›

Can Limoncello Go Bad or Expire? You should generally try to consume limoncello within 2 years of creating or opening it. Limoncello only contains 4 ingredients, 2 of which are preservatives. So, it will never “go bad” like milk would but it does lose its lemon scent and flavor over time.

For simple yet sublime dishes, pour chilled limoncello over fresh fruit, gelato or pound cake. Whisk it into ricotta or mascarpone cheese and serve it alongside grilled fruit or rustic cakes. Limoncello also makes a zippy icing for treats such as ricotta cookies or polenta cake.

Does one store it in the refrigerator or freezer? Limoncello does not require refrigeration for long-term storage. However, as is the tradition along the Amalfi Coast, we highly recommend chilling Fiore Limoncello either in the refrigerator or preferably in the freezer for several hours prior to serving.

Although limoncello is usually served in a shot glass or what some refer to as a “shooter”, the sweet drink is to be sipped, not taken as a shot.

The perfect glass is either short-stemmed or a shot glass, this helps to keep the drink cool. In some parts of Italy, it is served in a chilled ceramic cup. In all cases, an authentic Limoncello in Italy must be served chilled to enjoy the flavour.

Limoncello has about a 30% alcohol content so while it may jump start your digestive enzymes, it will also get you DRUNK.

What Does Limoncello Taste Like? Limoncello is a very sweet liqueur with an intense flavor of lemons. It lacks the tartness of lemon juice and is more like a spiked, highly-concentrated, citrus-flavored syrup that's very delicious.

Alcohol content can vary widely, especially among homemade variants, but the typical alcohol content is about 30% by volume.