What Is Bergamot?
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a citrus fruit with pale yellow-green skin known for its highly aromatic peel. Its fruit is sour and somewhat bitter, so it is not eaten directly; its main value is the intense, distinctive fragrance of its peel.
Bergamot peel is best known for giving Earl Grey tea its distinctive character; it is also used in jam, desserts, confectionery, and the perfume industry. In Türkiye, it is grown especially along the Mediterranean coast and is known for bergamot jam.
Bergamot Nutrition
Bergamot is used mostly for its aroma and peel, so its nutritional contribution is limited. As a citrus fruit, it contains vitamin C and aromatic oils; its sugar content is higher when made into jam.
What Are the Benefits of Bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus fruit that contains vitamin C and aromatic oils; its peel’s fragrance is traditionally considered refreshing. Because bergamot jam is high in sugar, moderate consumption is recommended.
This information is general; bergamot is a food, not a medical treatment.
How to Choose Bergamot
For jam and flavoring, choose fruit with glossy, plump skin and a strong fragrance. Prefer large, intact fruit with no blemishes.
- The peel should be glossy, plump, and strongly fragrant
- The fruit should be large and intact
- The surface should be free of blemishes and soft spots
How to Store Bergamot
Store whole bergamot in the refrigerator for several weeks; the peel can also be grated and dried or mixed with sugar for storage. Bergamot jam keeps for a long time in a sealed jar.
How to Use Bergamot in the Kitchen
Bergamot is used most often to make jam from its peel; it is also used to flavor tea, add aroma to desserts and cakes, and make confectionery. Even a small amount of grated peel has a strong fragrance.
How to Make Bergamot Jam
Soak the bergamot peels in water and boil them until their bitterness is drawn out, then cook them in sugar syrup to make a highly fragrant jam; it is made using a method similar to bitter orange jam.
Its Connection to Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey is made by adding bergamot peel flavor to black tea; the tea’s distinctive fresh aroma comes entirely from bergamot.
What Recipes Use Bergamot?
Bergamot jam, bergamot cake, bergamot-flavored tea, and bergamot candy are among its best-known uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bergamot be eaten raw?
Its fruit is very sour and somewhat bitter, so it is not eaten raw; it is used for its peel and aroma or made into jam.
Are bergamot and bitter orange the same?
Both are aromatic citrus fruits that are not eaten raw, but they are different species; bergamot has a more floral, fresh aroma, while bitter orange has a more classic bitter-orange aroma.
Where does bergamot grow?
In Türkiye, it grows especially along the Mediterranean coast; worldwide, it is grown most extensively in Calabria, Italy.
How is bergamot peel used?
It is finely grated to add flavor to cakes, cookies, and cream, or its bitterness is removed before using it for jam and confectionery.
When does bergamot ripen?
Bergamot is a citrus fruit that ripens in winter; it is available then for making jam and flavoring.