Swissness

Cin Cin in Ticino

There is a place in Switzerland where the summer is longer and the winter shorter. A place where the palm trees stand on the waterfront and where life happens outside more than anywhere else in this country. A place to explore with all your senses. In the BAR NEWS section Swissness, we take you to Ticino, the southernmost corner of Switzerland.
Lake promenade Ascona ©Ascona-Locarno Tourism, Alessio Pizzicannella

Ticino is truly a canton of superlatives. Once you have crossed the world's longest railway tunnel from the north, you are immersed in Switzerland's sunniest region. A Mediterranean climate, picturesque villages and towns and a fascinating mountain world attract visitors from Switzerland and abroad to the southern canton every weekend - and especially over the holidays.

The castles of Bellinzona, the capital of the canton, the Piazza Grande in Locarno, where the film festival was able to take place this August against all odds, and Ascona's lakeside promenade with its gelaterias.

The economic capital of Lugano is situated on the lake of the same name, nestled between the local mountains of Monte Brè to the east and San Salvatore to the west.

The branching valleys, such as the Verzasca Valley with its dam - where James Bond once made history in Goldeneye with the legendary 220-metre-high bungee jump - and the bathing spots of the municipality of Lavertezzo, which are particularly popular with Italians according to a post by an influencer.

The former fishing village of Morcote was voted the most beautiful municipality in Switzerland in 2016.

The Botanical Park on the beautiful Brissago Islands. The former fishing village of Morcote, voted the most beautiful municipality in 2016.

Anyone who knows Ticino is not surprised by the kilometre-long traffic jams at the Gotthard north portal: who doesn't fancy a bit of Italianitá in their life - even if the train journey through the Gotthard base tunnel is the more sensible travel route.

Tradizione e Terroir

Once arrived, it is time to fully indulge in the culinary temptations that Ticino has to offer. In addition to Ticino cuisine, which boasts classics such as polenta, risotto and ingenious cheeses, we would like to highlight the liquid specialities at this point.

Starting with the Caffè, which has always followed the Italian model in terms of intensity and length and is hardly ever found as a "short Café Crème".

Ingenious, and therefore not only on bar menus south of the Gotthard, is the carbonated refreshment Gazzosa. Filled in reusable swing-top bottles and in various flavours such as lemon, blueberry, Aranciata Amara, etc., these lemonades delight young and old.

Ingenious, and therefore not only on bar menus south of the Gotthard, is the carbonated refreshment Gazzosa.

A good digestivo is a must for a successful evening in Ticino. Grappa made from (Merlot) marc or Acquavite di Uva Americana are not only the most popular contents of schnapps glasses, these products are also used to make Nocino and Ratafiá respectively.

Traditionally, green, unripe tree nuts are harvested on St. John's Eve from 23 to 24 June. The fruits, which have not yet developed their wooden shells at this time, are cut and go into a glass container filled with grappa together with a secret mixture of sugar, spices and citrus fruits.

The regularly stirred mixture is allowed to enjoy the Ticino summer sun for exactly 40 days before the black-coloured liqueur is filtered and bottled. In rare cases, the grappa-soaked herbal mixture is mixed with red wine a second time. This turns into an ingenious, aromatised dessert wine, for which different terms are used, such as Vino di Nocino, Nocino Doppio or Nociato.

Many Ticinese who own a walnut tree or a pergola covered with vines make their own products from them. In many villages there is a distillery organised as a consortium or association where private individuals can distil their own fruit.

The bathing spots of the municipality of Lavertezzo are particularly popular with Italians, according to a post by an influencer.

Nocino is also often a homemade liqueur, the recipe of which will vary from family to family.

In shops, restaurants and bars, on the other hand, one encounters the products of professional suppliers. These include not only the professional distilleries, but also many wineries that have expanded their range with grappa from their own marc or nocino.

In addition to wine, beer lovers also get their money's worth in Ticino. The craft beer scene is at its best with top breweries and craft beer bars and has really shaken up the wine canton in recent decades.

In many villages there is a distillery organised as a consortium or association where private individuals can distil their own fruit.

With Bisbino (gin and bitters) and Manifattura Branchi (nocino and limoncello), two innovative spirits producers have also made it into the bars on both sides of the Gotthard.

But the wide range of grappa from Delea or gins, whisky and rice schnapps made from local rice from Terreni alla Maggia are also among the region's high-proof specialities.

A sip of Ticino seduces the mind with more than just complex, diverse aromas. It simultaneously exudes sun, dolce vita and the best of Ticino hospitality.

This article appeared in
Issue 4-2021

BAR NEWS magazine as single issue

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