Chinotto di Savona - Drink
Preparation Type:
Drink
Effort:
Difficult
Preparation Time:
Long
Description:
Chinotto is a typical Ligurian fruit that grows in the region of Savona. This type of bitter orange was imported from China a long time ago and is still used today to prepare marmalade, drinks and candied fruits. However, this fruit can't be eaten unprocessed, as it is very bitter.
Main ingredients:
ripe chinotti,
1kg sugar,
liquor, such as chinotti liquor or Maraschino,
Water
Preparation:
Wash the chinotto fruit and pierce small holes into the skin with a needle. Then immerse the container in water and leave for a few days, so the fruit loose their bitterness. Change the water several times throughout that period.
Boil only the bitter oranges on a low heat. Drain and boil again in a pot of boiling water.
Lift the chinotti out of the water with a slotted spoon, add 1kg sugar to the water and boil until a syrup is formed. Then return the chinotti and boil 2 – 3 minutes in the syrup. Leave to rest for one day.
Remove the fruit from the syrup again, bring the latter to the boil and return the chinotti to the boiling syrup for a few minutes, and rest for one day. Repeat this process 5 times, until the chinotti are covered in a thick syrup.
Serve the candied fruit with the liquor in a wide-mouthed glass.
