The Bergamot: Calabria’s Incredible Citrus
The bergamot is a wonderfully unique citrus that makes its home in Calabria, the southernmost region of the Italian peninsula. It’s quite puzzling, this strange fruit with a bitter, almost musty-smelling pulp and incredibly light, fragrant zest. Equally intriguing, the bergamot’s complex properties lend themselves to a wide variety of uses and products – from perfume to cuisine to pharmaceuticals – positively jaw dropping!
The bergamot is round, slightly larger than an orange and not as yellow as a lemon. The skin is thin and has a delicate fragrance while the interior is extremely pungent and resembles that of a grapefruit. Historically, this citrus has been prized principally for its essential oil that is obtained by pressing the skin. 95% of bergamot oil on the world market comes from Calabria, specifically, the Province of Reggio Calabria in the southern part of the region. The plant only grows in a small area ranging from Villa San Giovanni, just north of Reggio to Monasterace, which is around the tip about 100 miles along the coast.
The perfume industry claims the lion’s share of bergamot oil. Since 1709 when the essential oil became an important ingredient in the famous Eau de Cologne, the bergamot has been a key ingredient in scents ranging from the classic Chanel No. 5 to Dior’s very recent Sauvage, promoted by Johnny Depp. Interestingly, bergamot oil not only lends a fresh, zesty scent to perfume, but it also prolongs the fragrance for up to sixteen hours.
Gastronomically, the bergamot is best known for the flavor it gives to Earl Grey tea. This characteristic taste comes from the essential oil, and today many different teas incorporate bergamot oil as a principal ingredient. Another classic use is in hard candy, and the French, who are the biggest importers of the essential oil, have been making their Bergamote de Nancy for over 150 years. In addition to the classic international uses of the bergamot, Calabrians have been taking advantage of the unique flavor in their baking and distilling for a very long time.
Pizzimenti’s wide variety of Specialty Products from Calabria are available directly in their one-and-only store on Corso Garibaldi 263 in Reggio Calabria, or if you can’t make it to Calabria in person, from their website Pizzimenti Specialità Tipiche Calabresi.
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