Chinotto soft drink

Chinotto is a traditional Italian carbonated soft drink made from the juice of the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree (Citrus myrtifolia). The beverage is famous for its dark color, similar to cola, but with a distinct bittersweet flavor profile. While the fruit was originally brought from China to the Ligurian coast in the 1500s, the industrial production of the soda as it is known today began in the 1930s.

Historically, several brands have claimed to be the originators of the drink, with Sanpellegrino (introducing it in 1932) and Neri (launching the famous 'Chin8' in 1949) being the most prominent. Today, the most internationally recognized version is produced by Sanpellegrino. The brand was acquired by the Swiss multinational Nestlé in 1997, though the production remains strictly tied to its Italian roots, utilizing citrus fruits often sourced from Sicily and the slopes of Mount Etna.