Bergamot Citrus

A Bergamot Orange

Imagine my delight when I recently found bergamot orange at the local market!  :-)  Only a handful were available, and one promptly came home with me.  As you know, the essential oil from this citrus rind is used to scent Earl Grey tea.

I was surprised to learn that it's called an orange, as it looks jut like a lemon.  Read more about the fruit's origins here.  A few sniffs assured me that I had the right thing.  That "Earl Grey" aroma was subtle in the fresh fruit, but certainly there.

The juice, while not quite as sour as a lemon, is puckery and tart.  I found it to be very nice in my morning hot-water-and-lemon routine.  I found the aroma to be most fully present when I grated the peel for lemon zest.  Again, it's more subtle than your tea.  The tea would be scented with a concentrated essential oil, whereas here I'm using the oil in its natural proportions.

I'm not sure if the market has any more bergamot oranges.  If I'm lucky, I will try a batch of bergamot curd.  Oh, wouldn't that be delightful!

Have you ever tried a fresh bergamot orange?