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Bergamot oranges are small to medium in size, averaging 6-8 centimeters in diameter, and are globular to obovoid in shape. The glossy rind matures from green to bright yellow and has a smooth, pebbled texture from visible oil glands strewn across the surface. Underneath the rind, the pith is white, spongy, and semi-thick with a cotton-like texture. The flesh is soft, pale-yellow, and is divided into 8-14 segments by thin, white membranes. It also contains a few, cream-colored seeds and has a very acidic, tart, and bitter taste, which makes it generally unsuitable for fresh eating. Bergamot oranges are known for their aromatic rind that is full of essential oils that have fresh, floral notes mixed with bright citrus undertones.
Seasons/Availability
Bergamot oranges are available in the early fall through winter.
Current Facts
Bergamot oranges, botanically classified as Citrus bergamia, are a hybrid citrus that grows on small bushy trees that can reach up to three meters in height and are members of the Rutaceae family. Believed to be a descendant of a cross between a sour orange and a lemon or a lime, Bergamot oranges are not consumed fresh but are favored for the fragrant oil found in the rind. This variety gets its name from the northern Italian city of Bergamo, which is where the essential oil is extracted for use in perfumes, colognes, teas, and confectionaries.
Nutritional Value
Bergamot oranges contain vitamin C, potassium, and vitamins B1, B2, and A.
Applications
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. Bergamot oranges pair well with other citrus, seafood, ricotta, mild salad greens, avocado, and fresh herbs such as dill, basil, and tarragon. The fruits will keep up to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Bergamot oranges are globally known for their strong, aromatic oil and production requires approximately two hundred pounds of oranges to make one pound of oil. In Italy, Bergamot oil is most commonly used to create eau-de-cologne, which was one of the most popular fragrances of 18th century Europe. Today eau-de-cologne is still the foundation of many perfumes and colognes as its scent blends well with many different fragrances, and the oil is used to uplift and stimulate the senses. The oil is so highly regarded, that it has also earned a Protected Designation Of Origin or DOP in 2001 to protect the standard quality of oil from Calabria, Italy. Bergamot oil is also used to flavor earl grey tea, which is one of the most popular teas today, and flavors tobacco and snuff products in Norway and Sweden.
Geography/History
While the exact origins are unknown, the parents of the Bergamot orange were believed to have originated in Asia and were introduced to Italy in the early 1700s via Venetian traders. Bergamot oranges were then created from a cross between a sour orange and a lemon or lime and has since then been a common cultivar found in the Mediterranean, specifically Italy, where it was first discovered as a seedling. Today Italy produces more Bergamot oranges than anywhere else in the world, and the fruit is cultivated in Calabria, a city in Southern Italy, where it is the only known growing region where fruits do not produce varied qualities of essential oils in their peels. Bergamot oranges are also grown on a smaller scale in Northern Africa, Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia, Brazil, Algeria, Argentina, and Southeast Asia.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock Street
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Bergamot oranges: These fruits are small to medium-sized, ranging between 6-8 centimeters in diameter, with globular to obovoid shapes. Their aromatic, glossy rind transitions from green to bright yellow as it matures. Though the flesh is pale-yellow and juicy, their tart and bitter taste makes them unsuitable for fresh eating. The rind’s essential oils feature floral notes combined with bright citrus undertones.
Markthalle Neun
Pücklerstraße 34, 10997 Berlin, Germany
Bergamot oranges are primarily used for their flavor and not for fresh eating. Their rind and zest can enhance syrups, flavored sugars or salts, cocktails, vinaigrettes, marmalades, and jams. They are excellent for baked goods like cookies, cakes, and scones, as well as yogurts and custards. Known for pairing well with citrus, seafood, ricotta, greens, avocado, and fresh herbs, they can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Bergamot oranges can grow on small bushy trees up to three meters tall and are known for their fragrant oil, found in the rind, rather than for fresh consumption. Their name is derived from Bergamo, a city in northern Italy where the oil is extracted for use in perfumes, colognes, teas, and confectionaries. They are considered descendants of a hybrid between sour oranges and lemons or limes.
Bergamot oranges at the Berkeley Bowel food store …..Bergamot oranges were created from a cross between a sour orange and either a lemon or lime and discovered as a seedling in Italy during the early 1700s. Today, Italy leads global production, especially in Calabria, the sole region where the fruit consistently yields high-quality essential oils in its peels. Smaller-scale cultivation also occurs in Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia, Brazil, Algeria, Argentina, and Southeast Asia.
Mud Creek Farms
Santa Paula, CA
(805) 525-0758
Bergamot oranges are prized for their aromatic oil, requiring about 200 pounds of oranges to yield just one pound of oil. Originating in Calabria, Italy, the oil earned a Protected Designation of Origin in 2001 to ensure its quality. Widely used in fragrances like eau-de-cologne, the oil also flavors Earl Grey tea and certain tobacco products popular in Norway and Sweden. Its uplifting scent makes it a favorite in both perfumery and aromatherapy.
Mud Creek Farms
Santa Paula, CA
(805) 525-0758
Bergamot oranges are small to medium-sized fruits with a bright yellow rind that is glossy and dotted with oil glands. This fruit is highly aromatic, emitting floral and citrusy notes. The pulp is pale yellow and tart, divided into 8-14 segments, making it less desirable for fresh consumption. Instead, bergamot's essential oils are prized for their distinctive fragrance and are often used in perfumes and flavorings.
Mud Creek Farms
Santa Paula, CA
(805) 525-0758
Bergamot oranges: These vibrant fruits are primarily valued for their flavor rather than fresh eating. Their zest and rind lend themselves to diverse culinary uses, like syrups, flavored sugars or salts, marmalades, and baked goods such as cookies and scones. They pair beautifully with ricotta, seafood, avocado, mild greens, and herbs like basil and tarragon. Refrigerated storage extends their freshness for up to two weeks.
Jj's Lone Daughter
Bergamot oranges are a unique citrus hybrid of sour orange and lemon or lime, growing on small trees up to three meters tall. Named after Bergamo, Italy, their rind contains fragrant essential oil used in perfumes, teas, and confections. They are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and vitamins B1, B2, and A but are not consumed fresh due to their sour taste.
Nature's Fresh
Central market of Athens Y-12-13-14
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210 4831874 [email protected]
Bergamot oranges are grown mainly in Italy, especially in Calabria, the unique region where the fruit produces consistent high-quality essential oils in its peel. These oranges are cultivated on a smaller scale in countries like Turkey, Tunisia, Brazil, and Southeast Asia. The fruit originated from a cross between sour orange and lemon or lime, introduced to Italy in the 1700s by Venetian traders.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock Street San Diego, CA 92110
(619)295-3172 [email protected]
Bergamot oranges are famous for their aromatic oil, requiring about 200 pounds of oranges to yield just one pound of oil. This highly prized oil earned a Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) in 2001 to safeguard its quality in Calabria, Italy. It is a key ingredient in eau-de-cologne, a fragrance popular in 18th-century Europe, and continues to serve as a base for many modern perfumes. Bergamot oil also flavors Earl Grey tea as well as tobacco and snuff products in Norway and Sweden.
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