Cedro di Calabria PDO

The Cedro di Calabria PDO (Cedar of Calabria) is a citrus fruit of the Citrus medica (species belonging to the Rutaceae family).

The production area includes the entire territory of the Riviera dei Cedri, in the province of Cosenza.

The variety that is grown along the Riviera dei Cedri is the Liscia diamante, one of the finest in the world. The PDO product takes this name from the smoothness of its skin, which shines like a diamond, the color is deep green, and it has an elongated oval shape.

The main harvest takes place in the period between mid-October and mid-December, but there is also another harvest period (the late harvest) between February and April. The Cedar of Calabria is not edible in its natural state but needs to be processed; it is used in gastronomy as well as in the cosmetic industry.

The history of cedars is closely linked to Jewish culture: even today, every year, hundreds of rabbis from all over the world arrive in Calabria in search of the perfect cedars to use during one of their main harvest festivals, Sukkoth (or Feast of Shelters).