Chinotto () is a carbonated soft drink produced from the juice of the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree (''Citrus myrtifolia''). The beverage is dark in color. Its appearance is similar to that of

cola Cola is a Carbonation, carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus essential oil, oils, and other flavorings. Cola became popular worldwide after the American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, a trademarked br ...

, but it is not as sweet, having a bittersweet taste. The drink was known in antiquity as a dark-hued, bitter-tasting variant of

orange juice Orange juice is a liquid extract of the orange (fruit), orange tree fruit, produced by squeezing or reaming oranges. It comes in several different varieties, including blood orange, navel oranges, valencia orange, clementine, and tangerine. As ...

, and was considered as refreshment. Industrial production of Chinotto soda dates to the 1950s. It is produced in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

by several companies, and is mostly consumed in Italy and

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

. San Pellegrino, the

mineral water Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. It is usually still, but may be sparkling ( carbonated/ effervescent). Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at t ...

company, exports it under the brand name "Chinò" and "Chinotto."

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...

produces it under the brand name "

Fanta Fanta () is an American-owned brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks created by Coca-Cola Deutschland under the leadership of German businessman Max Keith. There are over 200 flavors worldwide. Fanta originated in Germany as a Co ...

Chinotto" in Italy and "Fanta Amara" in Malta.

Internationally

*The Brio brand of Canada (this is sweeter than Italian brands). *The Bisleri brand in Australia (previously independent, but now owned & operated by Coca-Cola Amatil). *In Venezuela, Sprite is sold under the brand name "Chinotto"; it is owned by

The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It manufactures, sells and markets soft drinks including Coca-Cola, other non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, and alcoholic beverages. Its stock is lis ...

. * Kinnie is a chinotto-like soft drink made in Malta.Kinnie goes on sale in London
''Times of Malta'', 17 September 2010.

References

{{Reflist Italian drinks Italian inventions Soft drinks

Internationally

See also

References