Limone di Siracusa

Limone di Siracusa is a PGI-protected lemon grown exclusively from the Femminello cultivar and its clones within a defined coastal strip of the province of Syracuse, Sicily. The designation covers three harvest types — Primofiore, Bianchetto or Maiolino, and Verdello — each with specified minimum juice content, acidity, and Brix levels. Fruit for processing may also carry the designation but may not be sold to final consumers.

About this designation

Registered as a PGI under file number PGI-IT-0502, with EU protection dating from 11 October 2005, Limone di Siracusa is produced exclusively from the cultivar Femminello and its clones, corresponding to the botanical species Citrus limon (L) Burm, grown in specialist orchards within the province of Syracuse. The geographical area covers the municipalities of Augusta, Melilli, Syracuse, Avola, Noto, Rosolini, Floridia, Solarino, Sortino, and Priolo Gargallo; it does not extend beyond 10 km from the shores of the Ionian Sea and reaches no higher than 210 metres above sea level, bounded in the north by the south-facing valleys of the Porcaria stream and in the south by those of the Tellaro river. All production steps must take place within this area. Fruit is harvested by hand from the tree, with harvesting scissors permitted to cut the stem. Maximum permitted production for direct consumption is 29 tonnes per hectare for the entire marketing year, including fruit from all flowerings. The use of waxes and artificial fungicides post-harvest is forbidden. Fresh fruit for retail must be marketed in the Extra or Prime category at sizes 3, 4, or 5, and all packaging must bear the Limone di Siracusa logo. Fruit destined for processing may be delivered loose in dedicated crates, with transport documents bearing the wording 'Limone di Siracusa IGP destinato alla trasformazione'. The protection association is the Consorzio Tutela del Limone di Siracusa IGP.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 11 October 2005 under file number PGI-IT-0502, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013834.
• The specification permits no cultivar other than Femminello and its clones; no other lemon variety may carry the designation.
• The geographical area is bounded to no more than 10 km from the Ionian Sea coast and no higher than 210 metres above sea level.
• The use of waxes and artificial fungicides post-harvest is explicitly forbidden by the specification.

Tasting notes

Sicilian lemon from Siracusa province, Femminello Siracusano variety. Bright yellow, three flowering cycles per year (Primofiore winter, Bianchetto spring, Verdello summer), juicy aromatic flesh.

HoReCa use

Fresh juice, granita, pastry, ricotta-lemon desserts, Cassata, and use with Sicilian seafood including raw fish and swordfish.

Packaging

• crate-10kg
• crate-15kg
• retail-net-bag-2kg