111 liters of genziana (gentian), the classic liqueur of Abruzzo, were seized by police because they lacked labeling, violating European law.
What’s so special about this story? Well, it turns out the genziana, along with 48 liters of limoncello, 8 liters of orange and 6 liters of coffee liqueurs that were also seized, were produced by four nuns in the convent of San Gregorio, near L’Aquila. For personal use.
That’s at least what the nuns said to the police, to explain why there was no labeling (the nuns do have a regular permit for the administration of food and beverages).
The story does not end here. Once it became public, after the vice-mayor of L’Aquila issued a decree ordering the destruction of the genziana, a liqueur dear to the Abruzzesi as it is part of local tradition, the Twitterverse came to the rescue. Two men from L’Aquila launched the campaign #savethegenziana, where supporters take selfies while displaying a sign with the hashtag as a plea to stop the destruction.
Monasteries have a long tradition of making food and drinks, to be offered to the local bishops and high priests or to benefactors. That was the intent of the nuns of San Gregorio, who said they bought the gential roots at the herbal shop to produce the liqueur to then give to their benefactors. Nothing to do with a possible commercial enterprise the police accuse them of, at least according to the nuns.
The genziana is likely to be destroyed, while the nuns will probably be subjected to a trial. To add insult to injury, they will also have to bear the costs of destroying the genziana.
To save the liqueur, there is another option though: under Italian law, the nuns could file a pardon petition directly with the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. Stay tuned.
