The Amalfi Coast lemons are iconic. You see them painted on ceramics and tiles, you drink them in the famous limoncello, and you eat them in gelato, cakes and regional pasta dishes. So what makes them so special?
Lemons from the Amalfi Coast are larger and sweeter than the lemons we are more commonly familar with. There are two kinds grown in the region. The Sfusato Amalfitano, grown along the Amalfi Coast, is a more elongated lemon with knobby ends. It is a juicier lemon making it perfect for lemoncello. Grown along the Sorrento Coast is the Sfusato Sorrentino, a rounder and bumpier lemon with a meatier pulp, ideal for marmalades and desserts.
Lemons are grown along the Sorrento Peninsula's rocky cliffs where they thrive in the area's temperate climate and fertile soil. The best time to catch a harvest is from March to July.
As with any product the Italians are proud of, the lemons are controlled by a governing body called the Consorzio di Tutela del Limone Costa d'Amalfi, or simply put, the I.G.P. When buying lemons or lemon products, look for the I.G.P. label guaranteeing you are purchasing lemons grown in the area and according to the production rules.
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