Chinotto – Bitter Orange Soda

Chinotto from Lurisia: tart, dark, and wonderfully bitter

Chinotto is Italy’s dark citrus soda, made from a small bitter orange from the Ligurian coast. Lurisia’s infusion comes from the Slow Food Presidium of Savona. It is not an herbal soda or a malt drink – it is a lemonade that favors bitterness first and sweetness second.

The Chinotto Bitter Orange Soda from Lurisia is the classic among Italian citrus lemonades. It takes its name from the chinotto, a myrtle-leaved bitter orange that has grown on the Riviera di Ponente since the 16th century. For those wondering what "Chinotto" means in German – the answer is right here in this 275-milliliter glass.

It appears dark in the glass, almost like cold tea, and that is exactly how the first sip unfolds: citrus peel, a hint of caramel, and underneath, that fine tartness that has given the fruit its reputation. This soda is not syrupy. It is refreshing.

First the tartness, then the fruit, then a long finish

The bitterness of the Chinotto Bitter Orange Soda comes from the fruit itself, not from additives – which is why it tastes tart and well-rounded, never sharp or metallic.

The aroma features orange peel and roasted sugar, which also gives the soda its dark color. On the palate, it is fruity at first, then tart, leaving behind a long, citrus-bitter finish. The carbonation is fine and restrained; it carries the fruit instead of overpowering it. Bitter, fruity, cool – this is how Italy has been drinking for decades.

On ice with a slice of orange for an aperitivo

In Italy, chinotto is as much a part of the afternoon as espresso is of the morning: served neat, well-chilled, preferably on ice with a slice of orange on the rim. A stemmed glass is fine, though a heavy tumbler works just as well.

Its tartness makes it a great companion for anything salty. It pairs well with antipasti and pickled vegetables, olives, or a piece of Pecorino. At an aperitif gathering, it serves as the non-alcoholic alternative for anyone at the table sticking to water. Serve at 6 to 8 degrees Celsius; that is when the bitter note shines best.

It also works well as a mixer, classically with a dash of Amaro or a squeeze of lemon. Those who prefer the chinotto note even tarter and with quinine can find it in the Tonic Water from the same producer – which contains roughly twenty-five times the amount of chinotto infusion.

A fruit from Savona under Slow Food protection since 2004

The chinotto is not an ordinary bitter orange, but a distinct citrus species with narrow, myrtle-like leaves and small fruits, barely larger than a table tennis ball.

A sailor from Savona is said to have brought it from China to the Ligurian coast in the 16th century, where it has grown between Varazze and Pietra Ligure since 1500. By 1925, an entire stretch of the coast depended on it, but then came freezing winters and cheaper imports, and the trees almost completely vanished. What remained were a few hundred plants and several families who refused to give up.

Since 2004, the Chinotto di Savona has been protected as a Slow Food Presidium to ensure that cultivation and processing continue. It is harvested from mid-September to the end of November, by hand, fruit by fruit, because the thin skin cannot withstand machine harvesting. This is exactly where Lurisia sources the infusion for this soda.

A soda that keeps an almost lost heirloom plant alive – we like that. If you want to sample the different varieties, you will also find the Gazzosa with Amalfi lemon and the Aranciata Rossa with Sicilian blood oranges in the Lurisia range. The Chinotto Bitter Orange Soda is the tartest of them all. Salute.

Price plus deposit