ABOUT CHINOTTO
CHINOTTO PERFUMES: THE TASTE OF A GREAT TRADITION
Over 300 years ago, the Chinotto plant was brought to Savona from China by a Savonese sailor.
The unique climate created by the proximity of the mountains to the sea made Savona the perfect environment for the Chinotto plant to thrive, and this charming Italian town became its new home.
The bitter citrus of the plant came to be highly regarded among navigators, who believed it was an amulet that protected them from diseases and danger on the high seas.
Centuries of Chinotto cultivation made Savona famous as the “Town of Chinotto”. The Chinotto plant’s flowers are abundant and delicately scented, and the leaves and fruit peel contain oils often used in fine perfumery and cosmetics.
The citrus is quite bitter when freshly picked, but can be transformed into delicious candied delicacies and drinks when properly processed.
Marco Abaton, a perfumer from Savona, uses the iconic Chinotto to honor his hometown with the creation of two fragrances that enhance the olfactory notes of this celebrated fruit.
As the Savonese sailor brought the Chinotto to Italy, Marco Abaton now shares his creations with the world through his unique Chinotto perfumes.
CHINOTTO GOURMAND
Joyful and energizing, the vibrant citrus notes of the ripe Chinotto mingled with delicate orange blossom lead into a sweet and enveloping heart of vanilla and caramel for a warm and addictive finish.
CHINOTTO DARK
A fresh citrus opening blended with the crisp leaves of the green Chinotto fruit melt into a liqueur-infused balsamic heart, while a hint of intoxicating absinthe, aromatic juniper and smoky incense provide a seductive base for this bitter-sweet delight.
QUENCH YOUR SKIN’S THIRST
AN EXCLUSIVE PAMPERING RITUAL OF NATURAL WELL-BEING THROUGH THE UNIQUE FRAGRANCE OF CHINOTTO DARK AND PURE ESSENTIAL OILS OF THE PLANT
The aroma-therapeutic Organic Chinotto body line was created to de-stress your skin from the effects of the environment and the pressures of daily life.
Only the purest organic essential oils have been selected, both for their active physical results, and for their wonderful aromas with a goal to inspire peaceful moments of contemplation.
A comfortable and highly effective organic body line with Chinotto, aloe, and olive that is bio-certified by Ecogruppo Italia, the collection is contained in elegant eco-friendly soft-touch packaging.
Il chinotto nella rete
A long history, a great tradition, a unique multi sensorial experience to discover: we are talking about chinotto, one of the symbols of the city of Savona. An indisputable emblem of taste and refinement, that is carachterized by its cultural and attractive aspects.
Chinotto nella Rete is a partnership among many companies that share a true passion for this extraordinary citrus, which is also Slow Food Presidium.
The main objective of the association is to promote the Ligurian territory and its excellence, following chinotto’s leitmotif, thanks to the popularity and interest that this precious fruit collects both among a younger and older audience.
Several manufacturers are part of the association: from nurserymen and processing companies we picked the best products to create a collection of excellent products that best stand for this great tradition and enhance chinotto as symbol of luxurious lifestyle. Our project’s aim is to export Savonese excellence in Italy and abroad.
History
Citrus myrtifolia arrived, like the majority of citrus plants, from South-Eastern Asia, and spread in the Savonese area from the 
first half of the XX century.
Around 1500, a Savonese sailor imported from China some chinotto plants. This extremely precious plant was considered by travellers as an amulet because, thanks to its abundant properties, it helped preventing diseases. On the Ligurian coast chinotto found its ideal habitat, that, over time, improved chinotto’s organoleptic properties. It naturalized in the Ligurian Western Riviera and became a typical product of the Savonese territory and of its culture. The history of chinotto processing started in the French department of Vaucluse (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur), where in 1780, Mr Elizièré founded a company to produce jam and candied fruits. After a series of changes in the management, the company passed to Mr Silvestre-Allemand, who decided, in order to widen the production, to move the factory to Liguria, precisely to Savona, where the new steam powered factory Silvestre-Allemand, specialized in chinotto processing, started its activity on the 1st of January 1877.
Features
This evergreen plant is about a meter and a half tall, but on its few branches an incredible amount of fruits and flowers grows. For this reason, it is ideal also for decorative purposes. 
During the harvest period, between September and November, it’s possible to see, among the leaves, small bunches of small, bright green chinotto fruits, that, over time, changes into yellow and orange. Their perfume is intense and peculiar, sign of an exceptional preservability for very long periods.
Chinotto fruits are too bitter to be eaten au naturel, but they become real delicacies if expertly processed. Even though the research is still at the beginning, CERSAA (Center for Agricultural Experimentation and Assistance) has reached some preliminary results.
The different varieties of chinotto plant have been tested, and the results show that the chinotto of Savona has different genetic characteristics with respect to the other varieties, so it has specific chemical values and organoleptic characteristics.
The organoleptic characteristics of the plant and fruits of Chinotto of Savona are qualitatively better than the other chinotto ecotypes’, that grow both in Italy and abroad (chinotto myrtifolia). The main differences can be found in various aspects: the absence of seeds and the amplitude of the leaves, etc … The genetic tests have recently resulted in a difference of about 80%, so you can consider them as different plants.
The chinotto of Savona has particular nutritional and chemical properties which make it good for food, wellness and cosmetics. In addition, the chinotto is rich in C vitamin, stimulates the digestive functions and the flowers have anti-insomnia effects.
In cosmetics it is a powerful anti-oxidant with a particular decongestant effect.
Chinotto Liqueur Cream (50 cl) 22€
Chinotto bitter ‘amaro’ (50cl) 22€
Chinotto Liqueur (50 cl) 24€
