What are bergamot oranges used for?

Bergamot oranges are best suited for flavoring and are not commonly utilized for fresh eating. The rind and zest can be used for syrups, flavored sugars or salts, cocktails, vinaigrettes, marmalade, and jams. They can also be used to flavor cookies, cakes, shortbread, biscuits, scones, yogurts, and custards.

Where did bergamot orange originate?

southern Italy
The bergamot is a citrus fruit native to southern Italy. Production is mostly limited to the Ionian Sea coastal areas of the province of Reggio di Calabria in Italy, to such an extent that it is a symbol of the entire city.

Where can bergamot grow?

Bergamot is evergreen in warm, dry climates, like the Mediterranean. It can also be grown in tropical regions. Ivory Coast is a center of cultivation. The trees grow up to 40 feet (12 m.)

Can I eat bergamot orange?

Like other citrus fruits, bergamot has a distinctive, heady fragrance and flavor. It is highly aromatic, and the essential oils are extracted from the rind. But unlike other citrus fruits, it cannot be eaten fresh.

Why is bergamot not edible?

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a small citrus fruit, which grows primarily in Southern Italy. The fruit from this cross of a Seville orange and pear lemon is sour and not edible. Bergamot is grown for its essential oil, which is contained in the peel. Pure Bergamot Extract contains ethyl alcohol, water and bergamot oil.

What does bergamot symbolize?

Magically, bergamot is strongly associated with the Sun, and is used in rituals to clear the mind and spirit, dispelling the shadows of depression, despondency, and fogginess that can come from focusing too much on worry and problems.

Who discovered bergamot?

Historically, bergamot essential oil was an ingredient in Eau de Cologne, a perfume originally concocted by Johann Maria Farina at the beginning of the 18th century. The first record of bergamot oil used as a fragrance in perfume is from 1714, found in the Farina Archive in Cologne.

Does bergamot grow in the US?

The bergamot herbs are perennial plants native to North America and are commonly grown as ornamentals to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Will bergamot grow in California?

They are mostly grown in Southern Italy (namely Calabria), though attempts to grow them on the Ivory Coast have now proved commercially successful. Attempts in South America, Florida and California remain unsuccessful (as of 2004.) Bergamot Oranges are never eaten raw, as they are too bitter.

What is another name for bergamot?

Botanical Profile of Bergamot (Herb) The herb bergamot is known by the botanical name of Monarda didyma. It is commonly referred to by its English name of bergamot or bee balm (because of its tendency to attract bees).

Is bergamot the same as grapefruit?

When you think of citrus, you probably imagine a lemon, lime, or maybe even a grapefruit. But what about bergamot? It might surprise you to learn that bergamot is actually among the same family of fruits that make you pucker up!

What part of bergamot is used in tea?

What is bergamot tea? Bergamot tea is typically made from black tea leaves and the fruit of the Citrus bergamia tree. The tea leaves are either sprayed with bergamot extract or essential oil, or mixed with dried bergamot rinds, giving the tea a mild citrus-like taste.

How to grow bergamot?

Wild Bergamot should be started indoors 6-8 weeks prior to final average frost of season. Seeds should be sown at a shallow depth; approximately 1/4″ deep or twice the thickness of the seed. Transplant outdoors once the final frost of the spring has passed. Heirloom seeds are the gardeners choice for seed-saving from year-to-year.

What does bergamot look like?

Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange (pronounced /ˈbɜːrɡəˌmɒt/), is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime, depending on ripeness.

Where can I buy Bergamot fruit?

However, if you are looking to buy them, you don’t have to travel to Italy (although it does sound like it would be fun) in order to get some for your very own. You can now buy California grown bergamot sour oranges from Pearson Ranch, right here in the beautiful San Joaquin Valley!

Is bergamot oil good for hair?

Bergamot oil may help to promote hair growth. While more research is needed, some evidence does exist to suggest that essential oils can help hair to grow healthier and stronger. Examples include: One study found that bergamot essential oil helps facilitate wound healing and reduce inflammation.