Bergamot

Fruit

Bergamot

Bergamot is a fragrant citrus (Citrus bergamia), grown mainly in Calabria, valued for its intensely aromatic peel rather than sweet eating flesh. Juice is tart and floral-bitter; essential oil from the rind scents Earl Grey tea, perfumes, and confectionery. Fruit looks like a smallish orange-yellow orange. Use zest and oil in baking, syrups, marmalade, and cocktails; juice sparingly for brightness. Fresh whole fruit is scarce outside production zones—oil and dried peel products are more common. Not the same as bee balm (Monarda), sometimes also called bergamot.

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Unit

Cuts & parts

Breeds & varieties

A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.

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Characteristics

Preparations

CandiedCannedChilledDicedDriedFermentedFreshFrozenGrilledHalvedJamJuicedPeeledPoachedPreservedPureedQuarteredRoastedSlicedWhole

Provenance

BiodynamicExport CertifiedFair TradeFarm AssuredHeirloomLocally GrownNon-GMOOrganicPesticide FreeRegenerativeSeasonalSingle Origin

Sources

GreenhouseIndoor FarmedOrchardOutdoor FarmedPlantationWild

Traits

AromaticBitterBrightCitrusFloralTart

Nutrition and pairings

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 56.1

Amount per 100 g

  • Total Fat 0.28 g
  • Saturated Fat 0.05 g
  • Trans Fat 0 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 0.09 g
  • Cholesterol 0 mg
  • Sodium 4.67 mg
  • Salt 0.01 g
  • Total Carbohydrate 13.2 g
  • Dietary Fibre 1.94 g
  • Total Sugars 10.6 g
  • Complex / starch 1.01 g
  • Protein 0.81 g
  • Water 87.1 g
Detailed nutrients

Fruit energy is mostly natural sugars with fibre and vitamin C varying by species.

In the kitchen

Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Bergamot.

Pairs well with

Classic and complementary matches

Usually avoid with

Often clash in flavour or tradition

History

IT

Bergamot orchards established in southern Italy, especially Calabria’s coastal strip.

GB

Earl Grey–style teas popularised bergamot oil as a defining flavour in Britain.

IT

Industrial bergamot oil extraction supplied global fragrance and food flavour houses.

Craft cocktails and pastry revived fresh bergamot zest where fruit can be sourced.

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