Everyone knows limoncello, but on the Sorrento Peninsula we discovered it has a "winter sibling": cioccolato al limoncello. Despite what the name might suggest, it is not a bar of chocolate but a dark, creamy liqueur that combines cocoa and lemon. Here is what it is and where it comes from.
What it is
Cioccolato al limoncello is included in the list of Traditional Agri-Food Products (PAT) of the Campania Region, among drinks, spirits and liqueurs. The regional profile describes it as an infusion with a homemade tradition, made only with natural ingredients: low-fat cocoa powder, 90° alcohol and, of course, limoncello. It is appreciated for its unusual flavour and as a digestif.
A young tradition
Unlike other Campanian liqueurs with a long history, this is a relatively recent product. According to the Region, it has spread over the last 30 years in some parts of the province of Naples, especially the Sorrento Peninsula, the very home of limoncello. Today it can also be found in the rest of the region.
We like to think of it as a "winter" version of limoncello: while limoncello is drunk ice-cold on summer evenings, cioccolato al limoncello, with its cocoa, has a warmer, richer character, suited to the colder months.
How it is made
As described in the PAT profile, it is made by mixing cocoa powder with 90° alcohol and traditional limoncello. It is still mostly homemade, although some small local firms have started bottling and selling it. Every family has its own proportions, and the result can be thicker or thinner, sweeter or less sweet.
The lemon that makes the difference
The base is limoncello, and the base of limoncello is the coast's lemons. The Sorrento Peninsula grows the lemon protected by the Limone di Sorrento IGP, while on the other side of the Lattari Mountains there is the Limone Costa d'Amalfi IGP. The scent of the peel is what gives character to the whole family of lemon liqueurs, this one included.
We recommend serving it cold, in small glasses, at the end of a meal. It goes well with chocolate desserts or a simple slice of cake that doesn't overpower the taste of the liqueur.
Where to taste it and what is nearby
The right place to look for it is the Sorrento Peninsula: Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Piano di Sorrento and Massa Lubrense, where there are plenty of shops selling artisan liqueurs. To round off the journey, read our profiles of Limone di Sorrento IGP, Lemon cream liqueur or cremoncello and Sospiri al limone, and our guide to Campania's DOP and IGP products.
Photo at top (Sorrento): Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.