What is chinotto kumquat?
like a cumquat that’s so sour. If you try a ripe Cumquat fruit and wish you hadn’t—because it’s so sour— then it’s a Chinotto. The Chinotto (pronounced kee-nawt-oh) is a small, bitter citrus fruit that grows on the Citrus aurantium ‘Myrtifolia’ or Chinotto tree, which is sometimes called the Myrtle-leaved Orange Tree.
What is chinotto fruit?
Chinotto oranges (Citrus myrtifolia) come from a tree that originated in China. They’re shaped similar to typical oranges, but their taste is more tart and sour—and their smell is intense. California’s chinotto harvest begins in April and ends late May. In Italy, the fruit is commonly grown in Liguria and Sicily.
What are the 4 original citrus fruits?

The most common and commercially popular ‘limes’, the Persian limes, are Key lime/lemon hybrids that combine the genetic lineages of four ancestral citrus species: mandarin, pomelo, citron and micrantha. While most other citrus are diploid, many of the Key lime hybrid progeny have unusual chromosome numbers.
Is chinotto edible?
Raw, the fruits of the chinotto are not considered completely edible, not because they are poisonous, but because of the deeply bitter taste. The chinotto grows more or less throughout the Mediterranean Sea basin and in Italy it is particularly widespread in the north-west and south-west.
What’s chinotto made from?
Chinotto is a soft drink, made with natural extract from bitter oranges (Citrus myrtifolia), and other natural flavours. A italian dark soft drink, which looks a little like Cola, chinotto has a more bitter flavour, though it also has a particularly fresh aftertaste.
What does a chinotto tree look like?

Citrus myrtifolia, the myrtle-leaved orange tree, is a species of Citrus with foliage similar to that of the common myrtle. The fruit of the tree resemble small oranges. It has a bitter flavor and is commonly called by its Italian name, chinotto (Italian pronunciation: [kiˈnɔtto]).
Where is chinotto?
Italy
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” and “Chinotto.” Coca-Cola produces it under the brand name “Fanta Chinotto” in Italy and “Fanta Amara” in Malta.
What is the oldest citrus?
Citron
Citron is one of the oldest kinds of citrus fruits and was used as parent species in the genetic breeding of many other important citrus fruits. It is often candied and used in desserts, as the citron is mostly rind and offers little or no juice. The citron is a slow-growing tree with leathery leaves and spines.
What is the scientific name for citrus?
CitrusCitrus / Scientific name
How do you use chinotto?
The fruit is also candied whole and consumed as a dessert, used in marinades, chutneys, mustard, and teas, or substituted for other sour oranges, such as the Seville. Chinotto oranges pair well with focaccia, aged cheeses, shortbread cakes, fish, poultry, paella, and curries.