L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 4 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS T h e s t u n n i n g Amalfi coastline might be one of Italy's most rec- o g n i z e d l a n d - scapes. A spectacularly clear sea laps at the shore of one picturesque town after the other, each a tumble of pas- tel buildings and majolica tiled church domes arranged like puzzle pieces between s t e e p m o u n t a i n s i d e s a n d pebbly beaches. But perhaps most iconic of all are the s u n n y o r b s o f c i t r u s t h a t grow terraced on the seem- i n g l y u n f o r g i v i n g s l o p e s , t h e i r s w e e t a r o m a a n d cheerful appearance defin- ing the Costiera Amalfi- t a n a . T h e s e a r e the Sfusato Amalfitano, the celebrated lemons of the Amalfi Coast. The lemons of Amalfi as we know them today haven't always been such a funda- mental part of this coastal culture. Historians believe Arab conquest in the 11th century carried with it the arrival of lemons to southern Italy. The ingenious Italians cross-bred these small, tart imports with local oranges. The sweeter, juicier hybrid t h a t d e v e l o p e d o v e r t i m e b e c a m e a s t a p l e o n m e r - chant vessels, their flesh the cure for the ills of scurvy. As a r e s u l t , d e m a n d g r e w throughout the European world and the small towns of the Sorrento-Amalfi penin- sula became a hub for the c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e p r i z e d lemons. Besides presenting a great photo-op, what makes the Sfusato Amalfitano stand out amongst its peers? The name "sfusato" - meaning s p i n d l e - g i v e s a n i n i t i a l clue. Amalfi lemons grow in a p a r t i c u l a r l y e l o n g a t e d shape and sport a promi- n e n t n i p p l e . Their organoleptic (relat- ed to the five senses) prop- erties, however, send them over the top. Large in size, the lemon-drop yellow skin is typically smooth, with an extremely high concentra- tion of aromatic oils, while the interior flesh is extra juicy and mildly sweet. The a r o m a o f o n e o f t h e s e lemons in and of itself is a heady experience. They can be eaten like an orange or even an apple with peel and all, but you'll still get a little p u c k e r p o w e r f r o m t h e experience! Most lemons y i e l d a s m a l l n u m b e r o f seeds, making them ideal for use in many local dishes, desserts, and of course… spirited beverages (a little more on that later). The Sfusato Amalfitano l e m o n a n d i t s v a r i e t a l s b e c a m e s u c h a v i t a l l y i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e region's culture and liveli- hood that geographic pro- t e c t i o n ( I n d i c a z i o n e Geografica Protetta) was a w a r d e d i n 2 0 0 2 . C h r i s - tened the Limone Costa d ' A m a l f i I G P , the sfusato and its cousins – the Zagara Bianca, Ovale di Sorrento, Cedro Profumato d ' A m a l f i , a n d L i m o n e G i g a n t e t o n a m e a f e w – were awarded recognition along with stipulation that a l l S f u s a t o A m a l f i t a n o lemons and products pro- d u c e d f r o m t h e m m u s t d e r i v e f r o m t r e e s g r o w n w i t h i n a d e s i g n a t e d g e o - graphic zone comprised of 13 towns. Protection of the traditional ways of cultiva- tion and purity of varietals is assured, as well, through the Consorzio di Tutela del Limone Costa d'A- malfi I.G.P. Like a good olive oil or wine, you and I c a n b e g u a r a n t e e d w e ' r e t a s t i n g t h e r e a l t h i n g b y looking for the consortium seal on any product claiming t o b e m a d e w i t h A m a l f i lemons. Why is it, though, that unlike grapes or olives, the t r e e s t h a t p r o d u c e t h e s e magnificent lemons thrive only in one small region of Italy? Location, location, location! A perfect microcli- mate culminates along the steep mountainsides of the A m a l f i p e n i n s u l a . B r i s k breeze wafts upwards from the Tyrrhenian Sea onto the mountain slopes, eventually Continued to page 6 "A Sweet and Juicy Soul" - the luscious lemons of the Amalfi Coast Amalfi lemons on display in a local gelateria (Photo: Antonio Gravante/Dreamstime) PAULA REYNOLDS

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