Sicilian carob amaro. Leave your contact to find out more
Sicilian soul
Taste and character from a warm and enveloping land.
Simplicity in sophistication
Simple ingredients for an original product.
The vision
Environmental sustainability and love for the land.
At its finest
Served cold, the perfect way to end a meal, together.
Digestive but not only
Thanks to the properties of carob it is an excellent digestive, also suited to gastrointestinal discomfort.
Where to find it
Karat is available in selected restaurants and wine shops, and will soon be sold through a dedicated online shop.
Karat our amaro
Karat was born and grows in Sicily. From that warm and welcoming land, in a context of careful environmental sustainability, this carob nectar draws its vibrant colour.
The name Karat recalls the bond between Sicily and its history. In antiquity carob seeds were used as the unit of measure of the carat, and from that comes the Arabic name Karat.
Karat is an amaro to drink cold, at the end of a meal and in company, like Fichissimo or other amari and liqueurs. It is an excellent digestive and, thanks to the properties of carob, it is well suited to gastrointestinal discomfort.
Karat has a fresh, intense and persistent taste.
Karat is crafted with simple ingredients, has an amber colour and an alcohol content of 32%.
Strictly Sicilian and untreated carobs are lightly dried before being macerated in alcohol for two or three weeks, together with a selection of Sicilian herbs.
Water is then added, followed by a further resting period, to obtain a liqueur ready in all its genuine simplicity.
The result is a perfectly balanced carob amaro with an intense aroma.
The carob tree
The great protagonist
The origins
The carob is an evergreen tree long widespread across the Mediterranean basin, reaching up to 10 metres in height. Originally from Syria and Palestine, today it grows throughout the Mediterranean and especially in Sicily, where carob trees carry their large, edible brown pods.
Inside these pods is a fleshy, sweet pulp, often used as an alternative to cocoa in traditional recipes. Lactose-free carob powder can sweeten desserts and drinks, and suits vegetarian and vegan diets.
Grinding the seeds produces carob flour, widely used in many preparations.
The properties
Carob fruit is rich in beneficial properties. The skin is rich in vitamin E, while the pulp suits those with gastrointestinal problems thanks to its astringent properties. Its high fibre and polyphenol content helps with altered intestinal transit and acidity.
It can lower blood cholesterol levels and may support weight-loss diets, as it gives a feeling of fullness.
Being gluten free, it is also suitable for coeliacs and is an excellent alternative to cocoa for those intolerant to it.
The carob tree and Sicily
The carob tree holds deep cultural meaning in Sicily and is often linked to legends and beliefs. It is considered a symbol of resilience and prosperity, thriving even through prolonged drought: for this reason Sicilians call it “the survival tree”.
Who brought the carob to Sicily is uncertain: some point to the Greeks, others to the Arabs or the Phoenicians. One thing is certain: in Sicily it found its perfect habitat, and for centuries its cultivation was an important economic resource for the island, especially around Ragusa.
Carob powder is a popular ingredient in many Sicilian desserts, from ice cream to cassata. In a land struck by famine, earthquakes and war, carob was called “the chocolate of the poor” — though unlike chocolate, its seeds and pods provide both natural sugars and high levels of protein.
About us and our journey
We are an Italian start-up whose purpose is the production of sicilian liqueurs as Fichissimo, Allora and Karat – handcrafted in Sicily, where the prickly pears, the laurel’s plants and the carob trees grow in all their flavor and deliciousness.
As often, our journey started by chance.
We chose such names, because our liqueurs are both very, very cool (both prickly pear and cool are translated by the Italian word “fico”, hence Fichissimo)! Karat’s name comes from further away: in ancient times carob seeds were used as the unit of measure of the carat, and that is where the Arabic word Karat comes from.
With great care and passion, we handed over all the original techniques and steps to a Sicilian distillery that carefully maintains the same characteristics of simplicity and craftsmanship without any additives.
The passion of an Italian manager for the production of artisanal liqueurs for personal use met the creativity of an Italian entrepreneur who immediately perceived its value and conceived the name. These are the ingredients for our journey, the Fichissimo, Allora and now Karat adventure!
The choice of Sicily as the place of cultivation and production is a tribute to this wonderful land: a warm and welcoming land where these beneficial plants found a perfect home, from the prickly pear to the carob tree, which here is called the tree of survival.
Contacts
Issimo S.r.l.s.
Palermo, Italia
P. IVA 07077060825
E-mail: liquorefichissimo@gmail.com
Our door is always open to welcome opinions, questions and curiosities.
Contact us at the contact details indicated for information on the products and their distribution, or fill out the form, we will be happy to provide you with every detail, thank you!