Bergamot
Citrus bergamia
Trivia
That Earl Grey you love? Credit bergamot, a version of bitter orange, for that distinctive aroma. But don’t eat it—the actual fruit of the bergamot orange itself is not considered edible.
The province of Reggio Calabria in the southern Calabria region of Italy has cornered the market on citrus bergamot. More than 80% of the commercially grown fruit hails from there. The word bergamot evolved from the Italian word bergomotta, from the city and province of Bergamo, Italy.
Healing powers: The juice of the fruit has also been used in Calabrian indigenous medicine to treat malaria, and its essential oil is popular in aromatherapy applications.
Tea on Toast! The essence extracted from the aromatic skin of this sour fruit is used to flavor confectionery such as Turkish delight and orange marmalade.
Drink—and wear. Bergamot peel is used to create many perfumes. Its essential oil is used as an ingredient in one-third of men’s and half of women’s perfumes.
Tips and Tricks
If you’re concocting an aromatherapy scrub or wrap, don’t forget to include bergamot peel. It is used both to treat depression and as a digestive aid. Bergamot oil is sometimes inhaled to reduce anxiety during radiation treatment.
Like many fruits, bergamot is used in skin care lotions because of its cooling nature. It is ideally suited to help calm inflamed skin, in such conditions as psoriasis. It is packed with antiseptic properties that help ward off infection and aid recovery.
If you tend to burn in the sun easily, watch out: Bergamot oil has several active chemicals that can make the skin sensitive to sunlight. The chemical psoralen, extracted from bergamot oil, used to be used in tanning accelerators and sunscreens. It has since been found that psoralens increase the amount of direct DNA damage under the skin, which causes sunburn.
Even bergamot-containing tea should be taken in moderation if you’re prone to foot cramps. Some scientists warn that the bergamot oil in Earl Grey tea can block the movement of potassium in muscles, which leads to muscle cramps and twitches.
Try It
Intense
- Lord Bergamot Full-Leaf Black Tea, by Steven Smith Teamaker
- Double Bergamot Earl Grey Tea, by Stash Tea
- Earl Grey Extra Aromatic Tea, by Simpson & Vail
- Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey, by Upton Tea Imports
More Subtle
- Earl Grey Bravo, by Adagio Teas
- Bergamot Rose Laoshan Black, by Verdant Tea
- Earl Grey with Bergamot, by Peet’s Coffee & Tea
- Mademoiselle Grey, by SerendipiTea
