When life gives you lemons, make sure they’re Sorrento lemons!
Stepping foot in Sorrento or anywhere on the Amalfi Coast, it is hard not to notice bright yellow lemons growing on trees at every turn. And they aren’t just used to make lemonade! They are a staple to Italians especially in this area, and you won’t be able to walk down a road without seeing stores lined with lemon soaps, perfumes, candles, candies, and anything else you can think of. The air is fragrant with the aroma of the tangy citrus wafting throughout, and you will truly feel like you’re living your “zest” life.
According to Specialty Produce, Sorrento lemons are classified as a variety that is size medium or large with pointy ends. The fragrant peel is thick and bumpy, and the pulp is tart and acidic. They are an Italian variety of Citrus limon that has been cultivated from the Femminello-types, the most prominent lemon group in Italy. Lemons have always been highly respected and some families have been growing them for six generations.
Specialty Produce also says lemons were believed to have first arrived in Italy after Jewish immigrants brought them here. Sorrento lemons specifically are believed to have been a spontaneous mutation discovered on a femminello lemon tree near Sorrento during the 16th century. What makes Sorrento lemons special is the soil and environmental conditions in this region that they are grown in. Sorrento lemons have actually earned a Protected Geographical Indication recognition and are protected, only growing in Southern California in small amounts as the only place outside of Italy.
Of all the uses lemons have served for Italians, Sorrento lemons are arguably most important to food and drink.
Most known to people is Limoncello, a popular Italian liquor made from the peels of these local lemons. This drink consists of lemon zest along with water, alcohol, and sugar. It is typically served at a cold temperature to be refreshing during warmer months before or after a meal. With its sweet taste and intense flavor, what makes all the difference in this beverage is the Sorrento lemons specifically used in them.
Upon entering a tourist shop called Bar Iolanda on the island of Capri, you will be greeted by free samples of different Limoncello drinks including the classic Limoncello, Crema Limoncello (its creamy counterpart), and Meloncello (a variety flavored with cantaloupe). You will also be offered lemon-flavored candies covered in chocolate and white chocolate that might sound like a weird combination, but don’t immediately turn them away. The lemon adds a tangy kick that brings out the flavor of the sweet treat, and your taste buds will jump for joy. If chocolate and alcohol aren't your things, the store also has other lemon candies, cookies, and snacks.
Another popular beverage in this area is the lemon granita, the popular Italian ice that is essentially a lemon slush or frozen lemonade. From the Positano beach to roads in Sorrento, and even right outside Pompeii, it is easy to find a place that serves freshly made granita. And they typically only cost 3€-5€! In many places, they will also add orange juice to it and make it a specialty combo drink. In all ways, granita is an icy treat that is refreshing and revitalizing on a hot day, and the Sorrento lemon flavor is especially brought out in these semi-frozen desserts.
Sorrento lemons are also used in enhancing sweets like pastries, cake, sorbet, and of course gelato. Gelateria Primavera, a gelateria on the main strip in Sorrento, is known not only for its taste and authenticity according to TripAdvisor, but also for its wide array of flavors. For an indecisive gelato-enthusiast, going in there can be overwhelming. But if you love lemon-flavored gelato, you will be in gelato heaven with the variety of options in consistency, taste, and flavor of the same power duo of lemon zest and gelato ingredients.
In addition, Sorrento lemons are used in a myriad of savory dishes, serving an important role in Italian cuisine. At the restaurant Michel’angelo in Anacapri, the other side of the island of Capri, lemon is added to many of the dishes. Examples include the cuttlefish salad with almonds, toasted pine nuts, and lemon sauce, and the fresh fusilli with mussels and lemon that adds a tangy kick to the pasta sauce. Lemons are grown year-round, and recipes like these include either the zest (the peel) or fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
According to Delallo, the lemon is used as a “catalyst” that allows taste buds on your tongue to react to other ingredients more strongly, bringing out the flavors of other aspects of the dish you are eating. The citric acid in lemons also helps make meats more tender! And because seafood is so prominent on the Italian coastlines, lemon is used with salt and olive oil in these dishes to make fish more desirable. The tanginess of the lemon actually takes away some of that pungent “fishy” flavor that characterizes seafood and is one of the reasons it is so prominent in dishes specific to this area.
Whether you are diving into savory plates, cold drinks, or sweet treats, make sure you let your taste buds indulge in fresh Sorrento lemons while you’re in Italy to ensure you are making the “zest” of your time! In the Sorrento, Capri, and Amalfi Coast area, you will find them almost everywhere you go.
Tip: Don’t hesitate to try something you haven’t before. Even if the combination of ingredients with the lemon sounds strange, it might end up being better than you expect!