Discovering the Cedar of Calabria, in the Riviera dei Cedri

United by the intoxicating scent of the Cedar of Calabria PDO, the coastal villages, and the foothills of the Riviera dei Cedri offer a perfect itinerary for those who want to discover the beauty of the Alto Tirreno of Cosenza and the properties of an autochthonous citrus.

Let us discover together the history, territory, and uses of an ancient fruit through a dedicated itinerary.

The Cedar of Calabria PDO

What are the characteristics of the Cedar of Calabria and what makes it so special?

The special variety of the Calabrian Citrus is Citrus Medica (from the Rutaceae family), also known as Cedro liscio diamante (smooth diamond Cedar) an autochthonous cultivar from the Riviera dei Cedri with the PDO brand.

The name comes from the smooth and shiny peel like a diamond, whose color varies from yellow to intense green. The shape is elongated and the weight can reach up to 1 kg. The plant is very delicate and needs a mild climate, water, and shelter from the cold.

The Calabrian Cedar is not edible naturally and needs to be processed, since the pulp is not very juicy and has an acidic taste. In gastronomy, the cedar is candied and used in Christmas sweets and in the confectionery industry in general, as well as in cosmetics.

The plant blooms all year round, but the main harvest takes place in the period from mid-October to mid-December. The late harvest (February/April) is instead the one carried out each year by the rabbis for the Jewish Festival of Sukkot.

This festival, also known as the Festa delle Capanne, provides for the use of some vegetables, including the etrog, the cedar, in the most valuable variant, namely the Cedar of Calabria PDO.

Immerse yourself in the Riviera dei Cedri

What to see, do and taste in a perfect itinerary along the Riviera dei Cedri. Here are the unmissable stages.