Chinotto

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The chinotto (pronounced kiˈnɔtːo, roughly as an American English speaker might pronounce "kee-NAUGHT-toe") is a small bitter citrus fruit from the chinotto, or "myrtle-leaved orange" tree (Citrus aurantium var. myrtifolia). The tree grows to a height of 3m and can be found in Liguria, Tuscany, Sicily and Calabria regions of Italy. The chinotto is an essential flavor component of most Italian bitter amari digestifs, and of the popular Campari liqueur.

The name chinotto is derived from China, from where the tree was thought to originate.<ref>Garzanti Linguistica website (in Italian; requires free registration). </ref>

A soft drink by the same name (Chinotto) is produced from the juice from the chinotto fruit and herb extracts. Its appearance is similar to that of Coca-Cola. It is said to taste similar to naturally flavoured cola or Campari, with a distinctive bitterness. Chinotto soda dates back to the 1950s, and is produced locally in Italy by different small producers. It is predominantly consumed in Italy and Malta, but recently San Pellegrino, the carbonated water company, has started mass production and export in collaboration with Nestlé, with the brand name "Chinò", and in collaboration with Coca-Cola with the brand name Fanta Chinotto.

The chinotto drink is fairly common in Italian immigrant communities spread worldwide. For example, its availability in the UK is limited but it can sometimes be found in Italian sandwich shops. Mangiare, which has three branches in London, and Peckham's in Scotland have recently been stocking both the San Pellegrino version and another less impressive. In Canada, the pizza retailer Panago recently began carrying the San Pellegrino version, increasing its availability further. There are also local versions of the drink in certain communities, for example the Brio brand of Canada. In Australia, Chinotto is also sold under the Bisleri brand (owned by Coca-Cola Amatil) and is available in most supermarkets, and many Italian restaurants. San Pellegrino's Chinotto also has a strong following in Italian-American communities, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens, New York. Chinotto is also quite easy to obtain in the states of Australia which have a strong Italian community (such as Perth and Melbourne) in supermarkets and Italian delicatessens.

Chinotto is experiencing a strong revival in Italy, which is only partially due to Nestlé's huge promotional campaigns. It is rather linked to the 1970s revival in Italy, and toasting or offering Chinotto is a trend gaining popularity. ^{[citation needed]} Chinotto lovers are increasingly developing their own fanclubs and websites.