Discover the Recipe for Concerto, the Century-Old Liqueur of the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is a place where beauty manifests in a thousand ways, from the deep blue sea to the colorful villages, but also in the flavors. Local products such as buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, and lemonsare the basis for flavorful dishes such aspizzaand delizia al limone. Thelocal winesare excellent, and lemons are used to make the famous Limoncello. But there is another traditional liqueur that you should try. It is called Concerto. 

This amaro, with its coffee color and unmistakable aroma, is an exquisite elixir that encapsulates the most authentic essence of this land. It’s a tale of wild herbs, distant spices, and ancient wisdom, born in the silence of a convent and jealously guarded by the inhabitants of Tramonti, the green lung of the Coast.

History of the Liqueur

The origins of Concerto are lost in time, within the walls of the Royal Conservatory of Saints Joseph and Teresa of Pucara, a hamlet of Tramonti. Here, in the 18th century, the monks created a liqueur infusing medicinal plants that grew in the Lattari Mountains with exotic spices that arrived by sea. This new liqueur was intended not only to delight the palate but also as a toning and digestive remedy.

For centuries, the recipe remained a secret kept within the convent walls. Only when the order was dissolved did the tradition spread among the families of Tramonti, who began to produce it at home, each with its own small, secret variation.

The Secret Recipe of Concerto

Asking a resident of Tramonti for the exact recipe for Concerto is like asking a magician to reveal his tricks. There are no precise doses set in stone, but an alchemy of ingredients that each family balances to its own taste. The soul of this liqueur is a complex and harmonious blend of no less than fifteen different herbs and spices.

The process is a slow and patient ritual. The wild herbs—including wild fennel, licorice, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, and mint—are left to infuse in pure alcohol for about forty days, inside large glass demijohns shielded from the light.
A separately syrup made from barley and coffee is added to the mixture, giving the liqueur its characteristic dark color and a toasty aftertaste.
Everything is then filtered and left to rest, so that each aroma can blend with the others, creating the symphony of flavors that gives the liqueur its name. The result is a perfect balance between herbaceous and spicy notes and a bittersweet finish that lingers pleasantly on the palate.

The Best Places to Taste Concerto on the Amalfi Coast

Today many restaurants offer Concerto (or Concierto) at the end of the meal, chilled or at room temperature, often accompanied by a local dessert. You can also ask for a small glass of Concerto in one of the historic cafés with a sea view: it will be an unforgettable way to end the day.

This liqueur is also a great souvenir from the Amalfi Coast. You can find bottles in the best-stocked wine shops or in shops selling typical products.

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