Typical local products are the basis of the innovation of a traditional product that conquers new markets

Nepeta, an innovative start up for the valorization of local products

Federico Tanasi, founder of Nepeta: “We have revisited the Nepitella rosolio to make a new bitter that is aimed at different markets, both national and international”.

The company 
Nepeta is an innovative start-up, founded just over a year ago, whose core business is distillation. The two partners have put into production a amaro, which refers to the traditions of the area. It is an area at 500 meters above sea level, between the Iblei mountains, where rosolio made from catmint, a wild mint, was produced.

The idea in short
Nepeta, starting from the traditional recipe, has developed a bitter product through the cold infusion of Nepitella, Syracuse IGP lemon peel and Sicilian bittering herbs, such as Artemisia, Citrus aurantium amara, Gentiana. These skilfully blended flavors and aromas, typical of the nature of the Val di Noto, characterize a new liqueur, with an alcohol content of 28%.

The valorisation of the territory
Nepitella is an aromatic plant that grows mainly in Sicily, Tuscany and Lazio. The Sicilian herb is found in the Iblei area, and the altitude of the land where it grows guarantees a greater presence of active ingredients.
Nepeta has cultivated a 5,000 square meter field, on which it then developed the certification process.
Another component of the amaro are the lemons of Syracuse, with the IGP mark, of protected geographical indication. And then the bitter herbs, typical of the area.
Nepeta respects the seasonality of fruits and herbs, so much so that the production takes place only from April to October.
The value of the Nepeta amaro comes from the balance between its components, but also from the ability to evoke - in the aromas and flavors - a territory that is also well known abroad, from Germany to the USA

An innovation for new markets
Nepeta bitter has conquered new markets thanks to online sales and collaboration with national and international distributors.
Nepeta has also conquered younger segments of customers, promoting its use among the new generations of bar tenders, who have given way to a way of making and drinking trendy cocktails, Mixology.

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