Strolling through the gardens of Sorrento, you will find yourself looking up at a roof of lemons above your head. These are the Sorrento pergolas, and under those trellises grows one of the most famous citrus fruits in Italy. Let us tell you about the Limone di Sorrento IGP.
The Ovale di Sorrento
The protected lemon belongs to the local ecotype Ovale di Sorrento, also known as Limone di Massa Lubrense or "Massese". It is elliptical, medium to large in size, with a minimum weight of 85 grams. The peel is thick, citrine yellow, rich in essential oils and very fragrant; the flesh is juicy, with high acidity.
The production area
The Sorrento lemon has been a Protected Geographical Indication since 2000. The area covers eight municipalities in the province of Naples: Vico Equense, Meta, Piano di Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Sorrento, Massa Lubrense and, on the island, Capri and Anacapri.
Pergolas and pagliarelle
The lemon-grove landscape is made up of terraces and pergolas built from wooden poles, preferably chestnut. In winter the pagliarelle are spread over the pergolas: mats of straw or reeds that protect the trees from cold and wind and delay ripening. Harvesting is strictly by hand, because the fruit must not touch the ground.
A little history
Lemon growing on the peninsula is documented as early as the Renaissance. In the seventeenth century it was the Jesuit fathers who gave a decisive boost to specialised citrus growing. Since then lemons have become an unmistakable feature of the Sorrento landscape, much admired by the travellers of the Grand Tour.
In the kitchen and in the glass
The Sorrento lemon is used raw, in wedges, but also in risottos, seafood salads and desserts such as the delizia al limone. The peel is used to make limoncello: "Liquore di limone di Sorrento" is itself protected as a geographical indication. We also recommend tasting the wonderfully fragrant marmalade.
Where to taste it and what is nearby
To experience the lemon groves, we recommend the paths between Massa Lubrense and Punta Campanella, as far as The Bay of Ieranto. In town, don't miss The Ancient Walls of Sorrento and our guide Sorrento: what to see; for the island there is The island of Capri: what to see and do. For citrus desserts and liqueurs, read Lemon cream liqueur or cremoncello and Sospiri al limone, and for Campania's other great lemon, Limone Costa d'Amalfi IGP. All the designations are in Campania's DOP and IGP products, and the province in Naples and its surroundings.
Sources: Qualigeo – Limone di Sorrento IGP; Product specification.
Photo at top (Sorrento): Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
