What is Limoncello and how is it prepared?
Have you ever been to Italy? Would you like to taste an Italian supper! Then read this article which is all about to let you taste an Italian liquor that is made from easily available ingredients such as alcohol (usually vodka or grappa), water, sugar, and of course lemon zests. Even though the preparation of this Italian liquor sounds to be easy –to-make but seems to be adult spiked lemonade, which requires great attention and deal of accuracy while making it. Yes, You Guessed Right! We are talking about limoncello which is prepared from lemons. For the preparation of this lemonade drink they are harvested in the months of February to October by their own hands to keep them at bay from falling down on the ground.
If you want to try something different from this lemonade drink then you can also try fragoncello (strawberry-flavor), meloncello (watermelon or cantaloupe-flavor), or Pistachiocello (pistachio-flavor), which are the other varieties available for this type of drink.
Origins of This Italian Drink
According to Legend, in the early 1990s a lady named Maria Antonia Farace had a garden in which she grew her own lemons and oranges to prepare liquor that she can offer to guests who are visiting her home. In that way limoncello was born in the small house this lady in Capri. As she invented this lemonade drink her grandson too followed nonna’s amazing Italian drink recipe had opened a liquor bar after World War II, which is world famous hot drink today.
Apart from Capri the other harvesting place of lemons is Sorrento which is located at Amalfi Coast in Italy. Hence both of these places lemons are used to prepare this drink. It is known fact that the few recipes from place to place differ in their taste and texture. These lemons are somewhat different what we actually use to buy at local grocery store. We all know that lemons come with natural remedial properties that are good source of Vitamin C, also intense in taste and slightly sweeter than the normal lemons.
How to enjoy this lemonade drink?
In Italy this lemonade drink is served by Italians as welcome drink to the guests who visit their home for lunch or dinner that are referred as an aperitif (before a meal) or a digestif (after a meal). Enjoy this lemonade drink that tastes best when served chilled, to exalt its flavors. Due to high alcoholic content in the drink it is usually served in a shot glass or a small ceramic cup. As said it is served in a shot glass, the drinker should not gulp the whole at once instead they should enjoy and savor to sip every drop of the drink which helps your body digest your food.
Apart from consuming this drink straight from the bottle, one can also make cocktails with addition of vodka, basil or mint, blackberries, and citrus juice, other syrups which are useful to remove its slight tartness. One can add this great ingredient while preparing some desserts such as limoncello pound cake, gelato, or cheesecake.
Conclusion:
If you ever happen to visit Italy or just around the Amalfi Coast, Capri or Sorrento don’t miss to taste this great Italian invention for once, a quality drink that is famously known as limoncello served in shot glass before lunch or dinner or a mixed drink at a bar to chill with your friends. Enjoy sipping every drop of this drink whether you are eating or drinking like a full-blown Italian.