Top 3 Italian Soft Drinks

Chinotto is a carbonated soft drink made from the juice of the chinotto fruit. This beverage has been produced since the early 20th century in Liguria region of Italy. The chinotto fruit, a small and intensely bitter citrus fruit, imparts a distinctive flavor to the drink that balances sweetness with a pronounced bitter note. The primary ingredients include chinotto fruit extract, sugar, carbonated water, caramel color, and various natural flavors. The flavor profile is often described as a mix between cola and citrus with herbal undertones. Chinotto is typically dark in color, similar to cola, and is carbonated. Several brands are well-known for producing chinotto, like San Pellegrino, which offers a widely recognized version of the drink, known for its high quality. Other notable brands include Neri and Lurisia, the latter of which is known for its premium, artisanal approach to producing chinotto. It is often served chilled or over ice, making it a popular choice for a refreshing beverage, or as a mixer in cocktails.Expand

Brasilena is a non-alcoholic coffee soda that hails from Calabria. The drink is made with natural coffee aromas and locally-sourced mineral water. It is a thirst-quenching fizzy drink with a characteristic dark brown color, medium carbonation, and rich coffee flavor. This soda has been on the market for over 50 years—it was first produced in 1982, and it soon gained a loyal following in southern Italy, mainly Calabria, Apulia, Sicily, and Campania. It is also exported to several other countries. The drink is produced by a local Calabrian company Acqua Calabria. Brasilena is usually enjoyed as a refreshing, well-chilled drink, but it is also incorporated into cocktails. It comes in glass bottles and aluminium cans, and it still retains its 60s-like vintage design with dominant brown and yellow colors. Expand

Gassosa al caffè is a Calabrian specialty – a soft drink that is best described as coffee-flavored soda. The drink is sparkling, refreshing, and subtly sweet, with hints of caramel and a distinctive coffee flavor and aroma. There are several brands of coffee-flavored sodas, some of the most notable are Brasilena, Siesta, Bibicaffè, and MokaDrink. The first variety that appeared on the market was Bibicaffè. It was introduced in 1941, but its history goes back to the beginning of the century. Gassosa al caffè is usually sold in glass bottles, and many companies use vintage and retro advertising.Expand