Chinotto (soft drink)

Chinotto is a soft drink made ​​from the juice of Chinottofrucht and other aromatic plant extracts. The dark drink is visually very similar to the cola, but tastes less sweet and distinctly bitter.

The origin of the Chinottos is unclear: It is claimed that it was invented in 1932 by Sanpellegrino, which is also the main producers today; another theory is that the company Neri would have invented it from Capranica ( Viterbo province ) in 1949. What is certain is that chinotto was developed in Italy.

Today, different brands produce it: Sanpellegrino export it in cooperation with Nestlé under the brand name Chino in the world. The Coca -Cola Company has launched in Italy its own chinotto as Fanta chinotto, a less bitter version, probably to accommodate the tastes of the masses. By the time all Chinottoversionen have become sweeter.

Apart from the exception of Malta, where the drink under the name Kinnie is widespread, chinotto outside Italy is mainly consumed by Italian emigrants. It is available in Italian delicatessens and wholesale markets and Internet - order houses.