Limance'thau
|
Limance'thau
|
Limance'thau
|
THE STORY BEHIND A FAMILY RECIPE
It all began in a kitchen in the south of France, where Claire and Mathieu were making their own limoncello, which they regularly served at family meals and get-togethers with friends. “My mum used to make us homemade limoncello for family meals, and we’d drink it,” says Mathieu. Faced with their loved ones’ repeated enthusiasm for this lemon liqueur, the idea gradually took root, like a lemon tree in the sun: what if this family recipe became a proper brand?
After about two years of thinking it over, experimenting and preparing, the couple officially decided to take the plunge. “ We said to ourselves, ‘Let’s get into production.’ I thought it was going to be a bit complicated with the administrative procedures because alcohol is heavily taxed, just like tobacco. But actually, it all worked out; we succeeded,” explains Mathieu.
Limance'thau
|
A FAMILY-RUN, LOCAL PROJECT
Limonce’Thau is, above all, a family affair. The name itself came about during a friendly chat: “We were looking for a nice, catchy little name and had settled on ‘le petit somme’ because, after a nap, you have a drink and have a little snooze, and what’s more, our family name is Somme. And then, whilst laughing and chatting, someone came up with ‘Limonce’Thau’. It’s brilliant! ”
A strong local connection is at the heart of the project. Based in Mèze, on the shores of the Thau lagoon, the company fully embraces its local identity. “We want to stay local,” says Mathieu. This philosophy is reflected in every aspect of production: the bottles come from a glassworks in Lunel, and the labels are made in Mèze by a small local artisan.
The visual identity itself tells the story of the region: the drawings on the label, created by Mathieu’s sister-in-law who is an illustrator, depict the Thau basin with its oyster beds. On the back of the bottle, a poetic text inspired by a song by Brassens, penned by Claire, Mathieu’s wife, adds a Mediterranean and cultural touch.
“We want to stay local,” Mathieu states with determination. “Everything is local apart from the lemon.” For now… Because the dream, of course, is to plant their own lemon trees. “ When you have a name like that, people expect the lemon to be from the basin. ” A dozen trees are soon to take root, the first ambassadors of a 100% local production. A long-term project that moves to the southern tempo: we take our time, we do things properly.
FROM LEMON TO GLASS: A JOURNEY THROUGH ARTISANAL CRAFTSMANSHIP
Push open the workshop door. Here, there are no gleaming industrial machines, just precise movements and meticulous attention to every detail. The process seems simple on the surface, but is actually quite complex: “We macerate the lemons in alcohol, then make a syrup from sugar and water. And we mix it all together.”
But the real secret lies in peeling the lemons. Hundreds of kilos pass through the family’s hands. “We don’t use the macerated lemon, just the peel. You have to make it as thin as possible because if you leave too much of the white pith, it makes it bitter. ” A special machine helps with this delicate task, but the whole family pitches in. “It smells absolutely lovely when you’re there; everyone’s covered in lemons! ”
Around 1,000 bottles a year come out of this family workshop. Each one tells the same story of patience, expertise and a love of a job well done.
Limance'thau
|
A PROJECT IN DEVELOPMENT
The adventure continues to unfold. A second product is in the pipeline: ‘Orangecello’, a liqueur made from oranges and mandarins. “ It has a lovely orange colour and tastes just as good.” Scheduled for release next year, this new addition will enrich the range with the same commitment to craftsmanship.
The lemon trees will take root. Production will be refined. Perhaps one day you’ll be able to visit the workshop and see for yourself how this sunny liqueur is made. But for now, Limonce’Thau is moving at its own pace, that of the Thau basin: between tradition and modernity, between work and la dolce vita, between family and sharing.
Practical information
➡️ Where to buy: Shops at the Archipel de Thau Tourist Office, Carrefour in Balaruc-les-Bains, wine merchants.
Address: 27 rue des Chênes Verts, 34140 Mèze
Social media: Instagram
