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How do you drink Limoncello in Italy
In Italy, the limoncello is stored in the freezer, as well as the glasses where it will be served. Usually, it is served at the end of a lavish meal (preferably evening) either together with dessert or after.
It citrusy flavour cleanse the palate and the alcohol helps digestion. It is served freezing cold to smooth the strong taste of the alcohol.
This is how you recognize a good quality Limoncello. Because it contains a high percentage of alcohol, Limoncello does not solidify like ice, but it remains creamy. If a Limoncello solidifies in the freezer it means it is mostly made of sugar and water and does not have a good level of alcohol.
Ingredients for the Limoncello
You will need:
- 10/12 non-treated, unwaxed lemons
- 4 cups – 1 lt of 95% alcohol or vodka
- 2 lb – 900 gr of sugar
- 6 cups of water
Making this Italian Limoncello recipe is very easy. You first need to infuse the lemon zest in the alcohol for 10 days and then mix it with syrup.
Italian limoncello recipe: infuse the lemon zest
- Peel the lemons with a potato peeler, as thin as possible. Try to take only the zest, not the pith, the white part of the lemon.
- Cut them into small pieces so that they come out of the bottle easily when you filter the liquor
- Insert them in a large bottle with a wide bottleneck
- Pour the alcohol in the bottle and let the zest infuse for about 10 days
- Try to shake the bottle at least every second day
Italian limoncello recipe: mix with syrup
- To make the syrup, boil the sugar in the water for a few minutes until it is completely dissolved
- Let it cool down completely
- Filter the alcohol and discharge the lemon zest
- Pour the alcohol into the syrup and mix well
- Pour it in bottles and let it rest in a dry place
How to serve the Italian Limoncello
When you want to drink it, store the bottle in the freezer with the glasses you want to serve it in. They should be small glasses. All should be nice and cold Limoncello as well as the glasses.
As Limoncello has a very high level of alcohol, it will last for years….if you have any left after a year!
Top tips
- Make sure the lemons are non-treated and unwaxed.
- Some types of lemon have a very bitter pith, try to use Amalfi or Sorrento lemons
- When you cut the zest try not to take the pith, the white part of the lemons
- Make sure the bottle has a large bottleneck otherwise it will be difficult to remove the lemon zest from the bottle
- In Italy, you can find 95% alcohol for liquors, but since it is difficult to find outside Italy you can use Vodka
- Serve the Limoncello cold and in cold glasses
- Bottle the Limoncello in fancy bottles to make edible gifts, your friends will love it
More homemade liqueurs recipes
Homemade liqueurs are such a satisfying project, enjoy them after dinner with your partner on a special day, offer them at the end of a dinner party or package them in fancy bottles as an edible gift.
I already have some published and more will come. Just be ready when the fruits are in season to start your collection:
Check out the category: Drinks & homemade liquors
Italian Limoncello recipe
Ingredients
- 10/12 non treated lemon
- 4 cups 95% alcohol or vodka
Syrup
- 2 lb caster sugar
- 6 cups fresh water
Instructions
- Peel the lemons with a potato peeler, as thin as possible. Try to take only the zest, not the pith, the white part of the lemon
- Cut them in small into small pieces so that they come out of the bottle easily when you filter the liquor
- Insert them in a large bottle with a wide bottleneck
- Pour the alcohol in the bottle and let the zest infuse for about 10 days
- Try to shake the bottle at least every second day
For the syrup
- Boiling the sugar in the water for a few minutes until it is completely dissolved
- Let it cool down completely
Making the liquor
- After 10 days filter the alcohol and discharge the lemon zest
- Pour the alcohol into the syrup and mix well
- Pour it in bottles and let it rest in a dry place
- When you want to drink it, store it in the freezer with the glasses you want to serve it in. All should be nice and cold
Video
Notes
- Make sure the lemons are non-treated and unwaxed.
- Some types of lemon have a very bitter pith, try to use Amalfi or Sorrento lemons
- When you cut the zest try not to take the pith, the white part of the lemons
- Make sure the bottle has a large bottleneck otherwise it will be difficult to remove the lemon zest from the bottle
- In Italy, you can find 95% alcohol for liquors, but since it is difficult to find outside Italy you can use Vodka
- Serve the Limoncello cold in cold glasses
- Bottle the Limoncello in fancy bottles to make edible gifts, your friends will love it
Equipment
Nutrition
Desserts you can serve with Limoncello
Here is a list of desserts you can serve with limoncello:
Your step by step directions and pictures will make making this italian limoncello a cinch. How fun to have this at home to serve to my friends after a delicious meal.
Thank you. Yes, friend love it especially in the Summer
I’ve always wanted to make limoncello and never realized it was this easy!! I’m so excited to make it now not only for myself but for friends! Excellent! Thank youuu, finally I have an easy recipe to follow!
You are welcome, I am sure all your friends will like it
This sounds nothing short of amazing! It will be so cool and refreshing on a hot day!
It absolutely will, thanks
Awesome, didn’t realize how easy this is to make. Will definitely be giving this a try for Thirsty Thursday! 🙂
thank you. Yes, very easy
This looks so cold and refreshing and super simple to make. I definitely need a little of this in my life immediately
Thank you. I know you do, LOL
So making this one!! How long does the Limoncello keep?
Thanks. Limoncello keeps for years as it is alcohol. It will be gone before you know it
This looks amazing. Where did you find your fancy bottles to put it all in?
Thank you, unfortunately I don’t know. My late husband had them already when we married