Bergamot

What Is Bergamot?

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a citrus fruit known for its light yellow-green color and highly aromatic peel. Its flesh is sour and bitterish, so it's not eaten directly; its real value lies in the intense and distinctive scent obtained from its peel.

Bergamot peel's aroma is best known for giving Earl Grey tea its identity; it's also used in jam, desserts, confectionery, and the perfume industry. In Turkey it grows especially on the Mediterranean coast and is known for bergamot jam.

Nutritional Values of Bergamot

Since bergamot is mostly used for its aroma and peel, its nutritional contribution is limited. As a citrus fruit it contains vitamin C and aromatic oils; sugar content rises when it's made into jam.

What Are the Benefits of Bergamot?

Bergamot is a citrus fruit containing vitamin C and aromatic oils; the scent of its peel is traditionally considered refreshing. Since sugar content is high when consumed as jam, moderate consumption is recommended.

This information is general; bergamot is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Bergamot?

A jam-making and aroma-making bergamot is a fruit with a glossy, full, and very intensely fragrant peel. Fruits that are large for their weight, intact, and unblemished are preferred.

• Peel should be glossy, full, and intensely fragrant
• Fruit should be large and intact
• Surface should be unblemished, not softened

How to Store Bergamot?

Whole bergamot keeps for a few weeks in the refrigerator; its peel can also be grated and dried or mixed with sugar for storage. Bergamot jam keeps for a long time in a sealed jar.

Using Bergamot in the Kitchen

Bergamot is most often used in jam made from its peel; it's also used to add scent to tea, aroma to desserts and cakes, and in making confectionery. Even a small amount of its grated peel gives off a strong scent.

How Is Bergamot Jam Made?

Bergamot peels are soaked in water and boiled until their bitterness is removed, then cooked in a sugar syrup to make a highly fragrant jam; it's made with a method similar to bitter orange jam.

Its Relationship with Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey is obtained by adding bergamot peel aroma to black tea; the tea's distinctive refreshing scent comes entirely from bergamot.

Which Recipes Use Bergamot?

Bergamot jam, bergamot cake, bergamot-flavored tea, and bergamot confectionery are its best-known uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bergamot eaten raw?

Since its flesh is very sour and bitterish, it's not eaten raw; it's used for its peel and aroma, or made into jam.

Are bergamot and bitter orange the same?

Both are aromatic citrus fruits not eaten raw, but they're different species; bergamot's scent is more floral-refreshing, while bitter orange's is more classically bitter-orangey.

Where does bergamot grow?

In Turkey it grows especially on the Mediterranean coast; worldwide it's most grown in Italy's Calabria region.

How is bergamot peel used?

It's finely grated to add aroma to cakes, cookies, and cream, or its bitterness is removed to make jam and confectionery.

When does bergamot ripen?

It's a citrus fruit that ripens in winter months; it's found for jam-making and aroma purposes in this period.