# Nocino > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nocino > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nocino.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocino > Source revision: 1336856511 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Walnut liqueur}} thumb|upright|Nocino '''Nocino''' is a dark brown [liqueur](/source/liqueur) from the [Emilia-Romagna](/source/Emilia-Romagna) region of [Italy](/source/Italy). It is made from unripe green [walnut](/source/walnut)s. The walnuts and the liquor are handled using ceramic or wooden tools (to avoid oxidation) and placed in an alcoholic base. After steeping in [spirit](/source/Liquor), the walnuts are removed and the alcohol is mixed with simple syrup. Nocino has an aromatic but bittersweet flavor. It may be homemade; villages and even individual families often have their own (oftentimes secret) recipes, including different additions like [cinnamon](/source/cinnamon), [juniper](/source/juniper) berries, [lemon](/source/lemon) or [orange](/source/Orange_(fruit)) zest, [vanilla](/source/vanilla) pods, [coffee](/source/coffee) beans, or [clove](/source/clove). The spices are added lightly, to avoid overpowering the flavour of the walnuts. A classic base consists of [vodka](/source/vodka).{{Cite web | url=https://nwedible.com/infuse-your-booze-a-complete-guide-to-diy-flavored-liquors/ | title=Infuse Your Booze! A Complete Guide to DIY Flavored Liquors| date=2013-10-09}} Nocino is also available commercially in bottled form. Commercially available nocino is typically 40 percent [alcohol by volume](/source/alcohol_by_volume), or 80 proof. ==History== According to [Roman](/source/Ancient_Rome) historians, the nocino actually was born in [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain).{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The earliest records are related to the [Picts](/source/Picts) and the Romans also recorded the strange traditions of these people on June 24, when they drank a very special brew, and they said they could talk with [goblin](/source/goblin)s, [elves](/source/Elf) and [goddess](/source/goddess)es. When the Romans made [Christianity](/source/Christianity) the official religion of the Empire (in 313 AD), these ancient rites, in order to survive, had to be "translated" into the tradition of the [Bible](/source/Bible). Thus, they became associated to [St. John the Baptist](/source/John_the_Baptist), who, according to the tradition, was born on the [summer solstice](/source/summer_solstice).{{Cite web |title=Traditions on St. John's night: The nocino liquor |url=https://www.italyheritage.com/traditions/calendar/june/24-nocino.htm |website=italyheritage.com}} While references to nocino often hail its ancient or Medieval roots, extant documentation is lacking. [Conrad Gessner](/source/Conrad_Gessner) provided a potential exception to this observation in his 1552 book ''The Treasure of Euonymus.'' [Peter Morwen](/source/Peter_Morwen)'s translation of Gessner's Latin text states, "The water of walnuts not rype made aboute saint Ihons tyde, ministred without, is good for woundes and hoat byles, and the pestilent [anthrax](/source/anthrax). Also being dronke a two or thre vnces, it cooleth and resisteth the [pestilence](/source/Infection)." Gessner's conception of this medicinal drink contains important components of nocino. "Water" likely refers to a distillation. Unripe walnuts should be collected on Saint John's Tide (June 24).{{Cite book |last=Gesner |first=Konrad |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A01662.0001.001/1:11.12?rgn=div2;view=fulltext |title=The Treasure of Euonymus |date=1559 |translator-last=Morwen |translator-first=Peter}} [Nicholas Culpeper](/source/Nicholas_Culpeper) wrote, "The young green nuts taken before they be half ripe and preserved with sugar, are of good use for those who have weak stomachs." He also mentions that ounce or two of a distillation of the same age of husk, is used to "cool the heat of agues and resist the infection of the [plague](/source/Plague_(disease))".[Culpeper, N., Culpeper's Complete Herbal and English Physician, (Manchester: J Gleave and Son, 1826), 194.] This drink or potion made its way to Celtic [France](/source/France) and to this day, a similar drink called liqueur or '''Brou De Noix''' is made in many French regions. At some point, this practice of infusing green walnuts came to the Italian peninsula where it became known as Nocino or, in the case of Piedmont, '''Ratafià Di Noci''' (walnut ratafià).{{Cite web | url=http://turinmamma.com/2018/06/20/nocino-an-italian-midsummer-walnut-liqueur/ | title=Nocino: An Italian midsummer walnut liqueur – Turin Mamma| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927085552/http://turinmamma.com/2018/06/20/nocino-an-italian-midsummer-walnut-liqueur/| archive-date=2018-09-27}} During the Middle Ages, Italian monasteries used Nocino for its medicinal properties and also as an alcoholic treat.{{cite journal |last1=Alamprese |first1=C |title=Characterization and antioxidant activity of nocino liqueur |journal=Food Chemistry |date=May 2005 |volume=90 |issue=4 |pages=495–502 |doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.05.011 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.newzino.co.nz/history.html |title=Use of Nocino in medieval monasteries |access-date=2008-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724193133/http://www.newzino.co.nz/history.html |archive-date=2011-07-24 |url-status=dead }} Ordine del Nocino Modenese is an association of [Spilamberto](/source/Spilamberto), [province of Modena](/source/province_of_Modena), [Emilia-Romagna](/source/Emilia-Romagna), Italy, which, since 1978, promotes the traditional Nocino of [Modena](/source/Modena).{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.ordinedelnocinomodenese.it/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107015455/http://www.ordinedelnocinomodenese.it/ |archive-date=2023-01-07 |website=Ordine del Nocino Modenese |language=Italian}} However, [global warming](/source/Climate_change) has started to affect the ripening process, and in certain areas walnuts are already too ripe for Nocino on 24 June. The ideal time to harvest the walnuts is when the walnuts haven't hardened yet. Depending upon the local temperature, the walnuts may have to be harvested earlier, such as on 14 or 15 June instead of 24 June. ==Availability== Nocino is also produced in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) by NewZino, under the name NutZino Walnut Liqueur{{Cite web |url=http://www.newzino.co.nz/ |title=NewZino |access-date=2007-10-11 |archive-date=2014-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516203204/http://newzino.co.nz/ |url-status=dead }} and in [Australia](/source/Australia) by [Timboon Railway Shed Distillery](/source/Timboon_Railway_Shed_Distillery) in [Timboon](/source/Timboon), Victoria {{Cite web |title=Railway Shed |url=https://www.timboondistillery.com.au/home |access-date= |website=Timboon Distillery}} and [https://www.osare.com.au/store/p14/500ml_Nocino_bottle.html#/ Osare - Liquori della Tasmania] in [Hobart](/source/Hobart), [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania). A handful of craft distillers have started producing the liqueur in the [United States](/source/United_States), notably [Long Road Distillers](/source/Long_Road_Distillers) in [Grand Rapids, Michigan](/source/Grand_Rapids%2C_Michigan) and [Watershed Distillery](/source/Watershed_Distillery) in [Columbus](/source/Columbus%2C_Ohio), Ohio.{{Cite web|title=Nocino|url=https://www.watersheddistillery.com/nocino|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Watershed|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=Simonson|first=Robert|date=2015-12-01|title=Nocino, an Italian Walnut Liqueur, Is Also Made in America|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/02/dining/nocino-walnut-liqueur.html|access-date=2022-01-28|issn=0362-4331}} In [Canada](/source/Canada), craft distillery, [https://thewoodsspiritco.com/products/Barrel-Aged-Nocino-p530093967 The Woods Spirit Co.] offers both traditional and barrel aged Nocino. Walnut liquor is also produced in [Romania](/source/Romania) and [Moldova](/source/Moldova) by [https://pomulregal.com Pomul Regal] and [https://Nucata.life Nucata.life], where it is called '''Nucată''' and used both recreationally and as a digestive. Besides the walnuts, the recipe includes various combinations of additional flavours, such as [anise](/source/anise), [black pepper](/source/black_pepper), lemon peel, orange peel, [nutmeg](/source/nutmeg) or vanilla pods. When making walnut liquor, Romanians sometimes set aside some of the softer walnuts to make walnut jam as well since in June the walnuts are suitable for both uses. In Romania, walnut liquor is sometimes made in autumn as well, out of the green husks of 15–18 walnuts.{{Cite web |title=Lichior medicinal de nuci verzi |trans-title=Medicinal green walnut liqueur |url=https://www.paradisverde.ro/viata-sanatoasa/lichior-medicinal-de-nuci-verzi#google_vignette |website=Paradis Verde |date=11 June 2013 |language=Romanian}} In [Slovenia](/source/Slovenia) walnut liquor is known as ''orehovec''{{Cite web |title=Slovenian spirits |url=https://www.slovenedream.com/holidays/drinking/spirits.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103094653/http://www.slovenedream.com/holidays/drinking/spirits.html |archive-date=2019-11-03 |website=Slovene Dream}} and is flavored with coffee,{{Cite web | url=http://berryshka.com/en/products/walnut-liqueur/ | title=Walnut liqueur Berryshka | access-date=2018-09-26 | archive-date=2018-09-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050533/http://berryshka.com/en/products/walnut-liqueur/ | url-status=dead }} while in [Croatia](/source/Croatia), it is known as '''Orahovac'''{{Cite web |date=18 August 2023 |title=Orahovac (Green Walnut Liqueur) 70cl |url=https://www.masterofmalt.com/liqueurs/maraska/orahovac-green-walnut-liqueur/ |website=Master of Malt}} and it is flavored with orange, lemon, and vanilla.{{Cite news|url=http://www.organicauthority.com/juicy-spirits/walnuts-in-your-glass.html|title = Walnuts in Your Glass: Organic Liqueur Recipes You'll Go Nuts over| newspaper=Organic Authority }} In [Serbia](/source/Serbia), it is called ''orahovača'', it is widely made in homes in the villages and is considered to be very good for health. ==See also== {{Portal|Italy|Drink|Liquor}} * [List of liqueur brands](/source/List_of_liqueur_brands) * [Nocello](/source/Nocello) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://nocino-ladina.ch/wordpress/geschichte-des-nocino/ A brief history of nocino (in German)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141335/http://nocino-ladina.ch/wordpress/geschichte-des-nocino/ |date=2015-04-02 }} * [http://www.toschi.it/ Toschi official site] * [http://www.nocino.com/ Monteverdi Spirits Napa Valley website] * [http://www.watersheddistillery.com/ Watershed Distillery Website] * [https://www.lifeinabruzzo.com/magical-nocino-italian-green-walnut-liqueur/ Nocino Recipe] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180927085552/http://turinmamma.com/2018/06/20/nocino-an-italian-midsummer-walnut-liqueur/ Nocino Recipe from Turin] * [http://www.ordinedelnocinomodenese.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nuova-ricetta-inglese.jpg Nocino Recipe from Modena] according to Ordine del Nocino Modenese * [https://savoriurbane.com/lichior-de-nuci-verzi-reteta-veche-de-nucata/ Romanian Walnut Liquor Recipe (in Romanian)] * ''[https://issuu.com/ilmallo/docs/nocino_book_uk Traditional Nocino Walnut Liqueur of Modena]'' * [https://random-times.com/2022/06/22/the-fascinating-story-of-nocino-the-witches-liqueur/ "The fascinating story of Nocino, the witches' liqueur"] * {{Kulinarischeserbe.ch|66|Nocino (Ratafià)}} Category:Italian liqueurs Category:Culinary Heritage of Switzerland Category:Cuisine of Emilia-Romagna Category:Nut liqueurs --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nocino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocino) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocino?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.