Calabrian Bergamot
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Fresh bergamot (Citrus bergamia) from Calabria — the aromatic citrus that gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive character and underpins some of the world's most celebrated perfumes. Around 90% of the global bergamot crop is grown along a narrow strip of Calabria's Ionian coast, where the specific microclimate, sea air and mineral-rich soils produce a concentration of essential oils unmatched by bergamot grown anywhere else.
Bergamot is not a fruit you eat like an orange. The juice is sour and bitter — closer to grapefruit than lemon — and is used sparingly rather than by the glassful. Where bergamot excels is in its extraordinarily fragrant rind, which is dense with aromatic oils that carry complex floral, spicy and citrus notes simultaneously. Zest it into desserts, marmalades, risottos and seafood dishes. Use the juice in cocktails, sorbets, vinaigrettes and granitas. The whole fruit can be sliced and candied, or the rind used to infuse sugar, salt or spirits. Early-season fruit arrives with green-to-yellow skin; as the season progresses the rind deepens to full yellow and the oil content intensifies.
Origin: Calabria, Italy
Ingredients: Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
Storage: Store at room temperature for a few days. Refrigerate for longer storage.
