With the temperature topping 23 degrees, it seemed the perfect day today to review Galvanina, fresh-to-the-market organic drinks with the romance of Italy deeply embedded in the branding.

The Galvanina Collection comprises of Sicilian Lemon, Ruby Orange, Clementine and Red Grapefruit and as my favourite citrus fruit drink is lemon, I firstly tried Sicilian Lemon, slightly sparkling and cloudy, reminiscent of traditional lemonade and presented in a beautifully embossed 100% recycleable bottle. The Italian manufacturer recommends you ‘lightly tilt the bottle from side to side to revitalise the juicy pulp’… certainly not a mixture you have to shake hard to wake up! Refreshing and perfectly citrus sharp with delicious sherbet notes, Sicilian Lemon Galvanina is made to an old family recipe that uses only Mediterranean lemons, harvested by hand, from centuries-old citrus groves. These juicy organic fruits combine with mineral-rich, gently bubbling spring water for a fresh and thirst-quenching drink, that dances between sweet and sour on the tongue, perfect over ice.
First discovered by the Romans some 2000 years ago, the sparkling spring water in Galvanina organic fruit drinks is an extraordinary natural wonder. The snow and rain that falls on the Apennine Mountains collects in gentle pools before embarking on a long journey. As it slowly filters through sandstone and clay, flows along winding channels and languishes in cool, dark chambers, the water is naturally carbonated and enriched with a perfect balance of mineral salts. After 30 long months, it gently bubbles out of the spring mouth on San Lorenzo Monte.

Clementine arouses the senses of almost Christmas-like aromas, a truly unique flavour and highly drinkable. Clementines are bright, fresh and vibrant fruits, boasting a distinct flavour, rich in delicate honey and orange blossom notes. Galvanina uses only the juice of organic clementines grown in Sicily’s picturesque, traditional orchards, warmed by the sun in the day and cooled by coastal winds at night. You could try serving Sicilian Clementine Galvanina as an indulgent afternoon treat with cake.

I quite like my grapefruit drinks strong, but Red Grapefruit Galvanina is a delightful marriage of bitter, sweet and sparkling. Galvanina use a variety of organic grapefruits that have ripened slowly and naturally in the sun before being hand-picked. Their pulp is also conserved for a natural, fruit-rich texture, which enhances the juice’s aromatic intensity and effervescent spring water for a lively, thirst-quenching citrus drink. Indulgently serve Red Grapefruit Galvanina with creamy desserts and cheeses.

Ruby Orange was delicately sweet, made using the juice and pulp of handpicked blood oranges that have ripened fully on the trees. Cool nights, hot days and organic farming methods give this rich, garnet-coloured fruit a natural sweetness and make it extra juicy, zesty, fresh and sparkling on the tongue, an exceptional all-natural spritz. Enjoy Sicilian Ruby Orange Galvanina over ice with a few freshly torn mint leaves.

You can visit the ‘fresh ideas’ page each month on the website to find fantastic ideas for not only mixing the fruit drink with alcohol like Limoncello to make enticing cocktails and quenchers, but ideas on how to cook with Galvanina… amazing!

It’s such a shame that you have to hide the product away in the fridge to keep chilled as the unique bottles have a really nostalgic style and would look great displayed in your kitchen before consumption or using as a vase or decanter after, an idea which a couple of major coffee manufacturers have cottoned on to lately.

I decided to wait until I’d finished my review to investigate the price points on this range as I’d got a figure in mind as to what I’d consider reasonable. This is where I got the biggest surprise of all… and it was a very pleasant one. Available at Selfridges and Waitrose, the product retails at £1.59 for 355ml and £2.79 for 750ml, quite unbelievable considering the quality of the product and the gorgeous bottle.

The Galvanina Collection provides the perfect ingredient for mocktails for warm afternoons, over ice as a non-alcoholic aperitif or a punchy fruit base for evening alcoholic concoctions, and at only 47 calories per 100ml, this refreshing new Italian drink is certainly delizioso!

http://www.galvanina.co.uk/
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