Lemondela, a gift from Mother Nature
What started as a homemade liqueur for customers at Matimba Bush Lodge outside Phalaborwa is fast becoming the next big thing.
LIMPOPO – The Lemondela drink, which is made from lemons, is the brainchild of Italian-born lodge owner Daniella Scattolin, who currently lives in Phalaborwa. Scattolin told CV that the name of the liqueur drink, Lemondela, is a creative combination of the words ‘lemon’ and ‘landela’, which in IsiZulu means ‘follow’.
“I was inspired by the Italian drink known as Limoncello, but I always wanted to create something uniquely South African. I started making Lemondela for our customers in 2007 and they enjoyed it so much that I decided to produce it on a larger scale,” she said.
Scattolin said she started selling Lemondela at the annual Marula Festival and in 2018, she entered into a business agreement with Qualito Distillery to produce and bottle the liqueur drink.
“Lemondela is a gift from Mother Nature. It is made from the zest of the lemons that grow in the picturesque farms around Tzaneen. It is a proudly Limpopo product and our plans is to distribute it to the rest of the country and the continent,” she said with a smile.
She added that the liqueur drink is 25% alcohol, takes about three weeks to produce and can be enjoyed on the rocks or incorporated into desserts.
“It is tangy and refreshing, and balances the sugary-sweetness of pies, cakes and other dessert confections. We use organic lemons to make the drink. I still enjoy every sip of it,” she said.
To taste the drink, you can find it at Qualito Distellery in Phalaborwa or contact Scattolin on 076 986 9281 or e-mail lemondela@gmail.com.
