Chinotto (drink)

The fruit of the chinotto tree is the main flavoring agent for several brands of soda.

Chinotto (Italian: [kiˈnɔtto]) is a carbonated soft drink produced from the juice of the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree (Citrus myrtifolia).[1] The beverage is dark in color. Its appearance is similar to that of cola, but it is not as sweet, having a bittersweet taste.

The drink was known in antiquity as a dark-hued, bitter-tasting variant of orange juice, and was considered as refreshment. Industrial production of Chinotto soda dates to the 1950s. It is produced in Italy by several companies, and is mostly consumed in Italy and Malta. San Pellegrino, the mineral water company, exports it under the brand name "Chinò"[2] and "Chinotto."[3] Coca-Cola produces it under the brand name "Fanta Chinotto" in Italy and "Fanta Amara" in Malta.

A bottle of Italian chinotto
An organic version of the drink.
  1. ^ "What Is Chinotto Soda? [Unique Italian Soft Drink]". 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  2. ^ "Chinò Sanpellegrino". Sanpellegrino (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  3. ^ "Sanpellegrino Chinotto: citrus drink". Sanpellegrino. Retrieved 2022-08-07.