No, Beyoncè did not take any inspiration from actual lemons. She got the idea for Lemonade was Hattie White, her grandmother-in-law who said, “I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade.” But still, lemons are a wonderful fruit.
I’ve recently spent a couple of days on the Amalfi Coast, where among all its beautiful scenarios and colors, I got the chance to fall in love with the local lemons. They are sweet-scented and exclusive.
Citrus lemon
Lemon is a type of evergreen tree which originates from Asia, despite its most known locations are set in the Mediterranean region. It is said to be a hybrid between bitter orange and citron. The plant started to be cultivated and became known in Europe and later America around the 15th century. This fruit can be a good remedy for sore throats or colds. Lemons usually help relaxation, in addition to body and face cure.
Limone di Sorrento
This type of lemon is a delicacy from Sorrento, a small town in Campania. These lemons differ from the others because of their dimensions, smell, and cultivation. The peel is medium thick and its smell is extremely fragrant due to the natural components that are inside the peel. They are bigger than common lemons and their juice is very sour. However, one of the most famous liquors comes from this particular juice.
Limoncello
Limoncello is an Italian liquor that is mostly composed of lemon juice. Preparing a good limoncello requires a lot of time, the genuine ingredients, and the perfect setting to fix everything. Limoncello is an alcoholic drink typically from Sorrento, Amalfi, and Naples. There are other variants, however, these are the most popular places to find the best version of this beverage.
Granita
If you don’t fancy any alcohol, some crushed ice and sweet lemon juice might satisfy you. Granita is the most go-to drink among Italians, from adults to kids. It is one of the most popular drinks at any Italian seaside, even if its origins are not from the Amalfi coast area. When in Amalfi though, I had a special treat—a lemon granita with strawberry topping.
Lemon in, Lemon out
Delizia al limone is a typical dessert from Sorrento. It looks like a small soft cake covered by a lemon creme. The inner side is poured limoncello, which gives the treat its traditional fresh aroma.
Lemons may be sour, but once you know how to use them you can make the most out of them