Bergamot orange Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Rutaceae Genus: Citrus Species: C. bergamia Binomial name Citrus bergamiaRisso[1] Synonyms[2] Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia (Risso & Poit.) Wight & Arn. ex Engl. Citrus aurantium var. bergamia Loisel
Citrus bergamia, or more commonly known as the bergamot orange (pronounced /ˈbɜːrɡəmɒt/), is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green colour similar to a lime, depending on ripeness.
Genetic research into the ancestral origins of extant citrus cultivars found bergamot orange to be a probable hybrid of lemon (itself a hybrid between bitter orange and citron[3][4]) and bitter orange.[5] Extracts he been used as an aromatic ingredient in food, tea, snus, perfumes, and cosmetics.[6][7] Use on the skin can increase photosensitivity, resulting in greater damage from sun exposure.[6]
Etymology[edit]The word bergamot is derived from the Italian word bergamotto, derived either from the Italian town of Bergamo or Ottoman Turkish beg armudu (بك آرمودی, 'prince's pear').[8]
Description[edit] Bergamot orange cross sectionCitrus bergamia is a small tree that blossoms during the winter. The juice tastes less sour than lemon, but more bitter than grapefruit.[9]
Phytochemicals[edit]Bergamot fruit or oil contains flonoids, such as neoeriocitrin, naringin, neohesperidin, melitidin, brutieridin, and bergamottin.[6][10] Bergamot lees contain different indole alkaloids, such as N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine.[11]
Taxonomy[edit] See also: Citrus taxonomy § OrangesThe bergamot orange is unrelated to the herbs known as bergamot, wild bergamot, bergamot mint, or bergamint – Monarda didyma[12], M. fistulosa[13], and Eau de Cologne mint (Mentha, disputed species)[14]. Those are all in the mint family, and are named for their similar aroma.
The C. bergamia is frequently misidentified as another citrus, C. hystrix (kaffir lime), due to the latter occasionally going by the name "Thai Bergamot".[15] Citrus bergamia has also been classified as C. aurantium subsp. bergamia (i.e., a subspecies of bitter orange).[16] C. bergamia is sometimes confused with C. medica (the citron, the yellow fruit of which is also known as etrog), and with C. limetta, the "sweet lemon" or "sweet lime".[17]
Production[edit] Unripe, CalabriaThe bergamot is a citrus fruit grown mostly in Mediterannean areas. Production is on large scale in the Ionian Sea coastal areas of the province of Reggio di Calabria in Italy, to such an extent that it is a symbol of the entire city. Most of the bergamot production of Italy is at this short stretch of coastal land, where the climate is forable.[18] There are three different cultivars of bergamot fruits that are traditionally grown, namely Feminello, Fantastico and Castagnaro.[19][20]
Bergamot is also grown in southern France[21] and the Ivory Coast[22] for the essential oil, and in Antalya in southern Turkey for its marmalade.[23] The fruit is not generally grown for juice consumption.[7] However, in Mauritius where it is grown on a small-scale basis, it is consumed as juice by the locals.[24] The fruit is also cultivated in Argentina,[25] Brazil,[26] North Africa,[27] Iran[25] and Greece.[25]
Maricopa County, ArizonaOne hundred bergamot oranges yield about 3 ounces (85 g) of bergamot oil.[28]
Adulteration with cheaper products such as oil of rosewood and bergamot mint has been a problem for consumers. To protect the reputation of their produce, the Italian government introduced tight controls, including testing and certificates of purity. The Stazione Sperimentale per le Industrie delle Essenze e dei Derivati dagli Agrumi (Experimental Station for Essential Oil and Citrus By-Products) located in Reggio di Calabria, is the quality control body for the essential oil Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria DOP.[29]
During World War II, Italy was unable to export to countries such as the Allied powers. Rival products from Brazil and Mexico came onto the market as a substitute, but these were produced from other citrus fruits such as sweet lime.[30]
Uses[edit] Tea and other uses[edit] Bergamot marmaladeAn essence extracted from the aromatic skin of this sour fruit is used to flour Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas,[16] as well as confectionery (including Turkish delight).[31] Bergamot is one of the most common "casings" (flourings) added to Swedish snus, a smokeless tobacco product.[32]
Fragrance[edit] Essential oilBergamot oil is one of the most commonly used ingredients in perfumery.[33] It is prized for its ability to combine with an array of scents to form a bouquet of aromas that complement each other.[34] Bergamot is a major component of the original Eau de Cologne composed by Jean-Marie Farina at the beginning of the 18th century in Germany.[18]
Medical effects[edit] Toxicology[edit]In several patch test studies, application of some sources of bergamot oil directly to the skin of guinea pigs was shown to he a concentration-dependent phototoxic effect of increasing redness after exposure to ultriolet light (due to the chemical bergapten, and possibly also citropten, bergamottin, geranial, and neral).[35][36][37] This is a property shared by many other citrus fruits and other members of Rutaceae, including rue.[38]
Skin effects[edit]Used in cosmetics and perfume products, bergamot may cause skin irritation.[6] In the past, psoralen extracted from bergamot oil was used in tanning accelerators and sunscreens. Known to be photocarcinogenic since 1959,[39] the substances nonetheless were used in tanning activators until 1995,[40] contributing to many cases of melanoma and death.[41]
Research[edit]As of 2017, clinical research conducted on bergamot oil has been of poor quality, with no conclusions about its possible biological effects.[42][43] Consuming bergamot oil as a component of tea may cause muscle cramps.[6] Use on the skin may be unsafe, particularly for children and pregnant women, and may cause rashes resulting from photodermatotoxicity.[6]
References[edit] ^ The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2 June 2015 ^ Porcher, Michel H.; et al. (1995), Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D): Sorting Citrus Names, The University of Melbourne ^ Gulsen, O.; M. L. Roose (2001). "Lemons: Diversity and Relationships with Selected Citrus Genotypes as Measured with Nuclear Genome Markers". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 126 (3): 309–317. doi:10.21273/JASHS.126.3.309. ^ Genetic origin of cultivated citrus determined: Researchers find evidence of origins of orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, other citrus species" Archived September 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Science Daily, January 26, 2011 (Retrieved February 10, 2017). ^ Curk, Franck; Ollitrault, Frédérique; Garcia-Lor, Andres; Luro, François; Narro, Luis; Ollitrault, Patrick (2016). "Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers". Annals of Botany. 117 (4): 565–583. doi:10.1093/aob/mcw005. PMC 4817432. PMID 26944784. ^ a b c d e f "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. ^ a b Didson, Alan (2006). Jaine, Tom (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Food (Second ed.). OUP Oxford. p. 75. ISBN 0-19-280681-5. The bergamot orange is not edible and is grown only for its fragrant oil, although its peel is sometimes candied. ^ "Bergamot". Online Etymology Dictionary. 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022. ^ Anika (2021-10-25). "Bergamot orange: planting, care & use". Plantura. Retrieved 2025-02-18. ^ Cappello AR, Dolce V, Iacopetta D, Martello M, Fiorillo M, Curcio R, Muto L, Dhanyalayam D (2015). "Bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) Flonoids and Their Potential Benefits in Human Hyperlipidemia and Atherosclerosis: an Overview". Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry. 16 (8): 1–11. doi:10.2174/1389557515666150709110222. PMID 26156545. ^ Servillo, Luigi; Giovane, Alfonso; Balestrieri, Maria Luisa; Casale, Rosario; Castaldo, Domenico (2013-05-17). "Citrus genus plants contain N-methylated tryptamine derivatives and their 5-hydroxylated forms". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 61 (21): 5156–5162. Bibcode:2013JAFC...61.5156S. doi:10.1021/jf401448q. ISSN 1520-5118. PMID 23682903. ^ "Is Bergamot a Flower? The Tale of Two Different Plants". Biology Insights. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ Fulcher, Liz (2013-07-25). "He You Ever Been Confused by this Essential Oil Name?". Aromatic Wisdom Institute | Essential Oil Education | Aromatherapy Certification | Liz Fulcher. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ Robby (2025-01-02). "Is Bergamot the Same as Bee Balm? Clearing Up the Confusion". Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ Hasa (2022-01-06). "What is the Difference Between Bergamot and Kaffir Lime". Pediaa.Com. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ a b "Citrus bergamia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-09-07. ^ RobynFrank (2017-11-29). "Bergamot - an Identity Crisis". Tisserand Institute. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ a b Attlee, Helena (2015). The land where lemons grow: the story of Italy and its citrus fruit. London: Penguin Books. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-241-95257-3. ^ "Socio-Economic Impact Reports of the Naturals, Bergamot". The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades. Retrieved 2025-08-20. ^ Maruca, Gino (2017). "The Fascinating History of Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia Risso & Poiteau), the Exclusive Essence of Calabria: A Review" (PDF). Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering. A (6): 25–30. ^ "Bergamot Orange - Citrus aurantium ssp bergamia". tradewindsfruit.com. ^ "PROSEA - Plant Resources of South East Asia". prosea.prota4u.org. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ Aktas, Ali (26 October 2004). "Reçellerin gözdesi, Bergamut" [The most prominent marmalade: Bergamot]. Zaman. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2012. ^ Clapton, Rachel (2022-04-16). "Bergamot: Ingredient Guide, Info, Smell & More!". Fragrance Affection. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ a b c Lauro, Filomena (October 2016). "The protective role of bergamot polyphenolic fraction on several animal models of pain". PharmaNutrition. 4: S35 – S40. doi:10.1016/j.phanu.2016.04.001. ^ Attlee, Helena (2015). The land where lemons grow: the story of Italy and its citrus fruit. London: Penguin Books. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-241-95257-3. ^ "Bergamot Citrus, varieties, production, seasonality | Libertyprim". www.libertyprim.com. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ Brannt, William Theodore; Schaedler, Karl. A Practical Treatise on Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils ^ "Decreto 15 novembre 2005 – Designazione della Stazione sperimentale per le industrie delle essenze e dei derivati degli agrumi quale autorità pubblica, incaricata di effettuare i controlli sulla denominazione di origine protetta "Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria", registrata in ambito Unione europea, ai sensi del regolamento (CEE) n. 2081/92" (PDF). Institute of Services for the Agricultural and Food Market. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. ^ Board, Niir (2011). "Oil of Bergamot." The Complete Technology Book of Essential Oils (Aromatic Chemicals). p. 75. ISBN 978-81-7833-066-2. ^ Garbee, Jenn (2011, January 06). Three generations of Turkish delight in Southern California. Los Angeles Times. ^ "Bergamot Flor - Buy best snus flors | Best snus online". Best Snus your Online Store. Retrieved 2025-08-19. ^ Zoe Diana Draelos (14 October 2015). Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures. Wiley. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-1-118-65546-7. ^ Giovanni Dugo; Ivana Bonaccorsi (23 August 2013). Citrus bergamia: Bergamot and its Derivatives. CRC Press. pp. 467–. doi:10.1201/B15375. ISBN 978-1-4398-6229-2. S2CID 100440701. ISBN 978-1-4398-6227-8. ISBN 978-0-429-16588-7. ^ Dugo G, Di Giacomo A (2002). Citrus: the genus citrus. London: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-415-28491-2. OCLC 49784202. ^ Girard J, Unkovic J, Delahayes J, Lafille C (1979). "Phototoxicity of Bergamot oil. Comparison between humans and guinea pigs". Dermatologica (in French). 158 (4): 229–43. doi:10.1159/000250763. PMID 428611. ^ Kejlova K, Jirova D, Bendova H, Kandarova H, Weidenhoffer Z, Kolarova H, Liebsch M (2007). "Phototoxicity of bergamot oil assessed by in vitro techniques in combination with human patch tests". Toxicology in Vitro. 21 (7): 1298–1303. Bibcode:2007ToxVi..21.1298K. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2007.05.016. PMID 17669618. ^ Luo, Ping; Feng, Xu; Liu, Shao; Jiang, Yueping (2024). "Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of Ruta greolens L.: A Critical Review and Future Perspectives". Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 18: 6459–6485. doi:10.2147/dddt.s494417. ISSN 1177-8881. PMC 11697671. PMID 39758226. ^ Urbach, F (1959). "Modification of ultriolet carcinogenesis by photoactive agents". J Invest Dermatol. 32 (2, Part 2): 373–378. doi:10.1038/jid.1959.63. PMID 13641813. ^ Autier P, Dore JF, Schifflers E, et al. (1995). "Melanoma and use of sunscreens: An EORTC case control study in Germany, Belgium and France". Int. J. Cancer. 61 (6): 749–755. doi:10.1002/ijc.2910610602. PMID 7790106. S2CID 34941555. ^ Autier, P.; Dore, J.-F.; Cesarini, J.-P.; Boyle, P. (1997). "Should subjects who used psoralen suntan activators be screened for melanoma?". Annals of Oncology. 8 (5): 435–437. doi:10.1023/A:1008205513771. ISSN 0923-7534. PMID 9233521. ^ Mannucci, C.; Narra, M.; Calapai, F.; Squeri, R.; Gangemi, S.; Calapai, G. (2017). "Clinical pharmacology of Citrus bergamia: A systematic review". Phytotherapy Research. 31 (1): 27–39. doi:10.1002/ptr.5734. PMID 27747942. S2CID 12136775. ^ Narra M, Mannucci C, Delbò M, Calapai G (2015). "Citrus bergamia essential oil: from basic research to clinical application". Frontiers in Pharmacology. 6: 36. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00036. PMC 4345801. PMID 25784877. External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Citrus Bergamia group. Bergamot by Citrus Variety Collection of the UCR Archived 2018-08-14 at the Wayback Machine Citrus bergamia on Wikispecies BBC news story on the farming of Bergamot in the Calabria region of Italy Information about the hard candy bergamote de Nancy vteCitrusTrue species Australian and Papuan wild limes group Citron Ichang papeda Kaffir lime Kumquats group Mandarin orange Mangshanyegan Mountain citron Pomelo Ryukyu mandarin Major hybrids Grapefruit Lemon Lime Orange (sweet orange) True and hybridcultivars Alemow Amanatsu Assam lemon Bergamot orange Bizzarria Bitter orange Blood lime Blood orange Byeonggyul Biasong Cam sành Cara Cara nel orange Citrange Citrumelo Citrus taiwanica Clementine Coorg orange Daidai Dekopon Encore Fairchild tangerine Florentine citron Forbidden fruit Ginger lime Haruka Hassaku Hebesu Heen naran Hyuganatsu Imperial lemon Indian wild orange Iyokan Jabara Jaffa orange Jamaican tangelo Kabbad Kabosu Kaji Nemu Kakadu lime Kalpi Kanpei Kawachi bankan Key lime Khasi papeda Kinkoji unshiu Kinnow Kishu mikan Kiyomi Kobayashi mikan Koji Komikan Laraha Lemonade fruit Limón de Pica Lumia Mandelo Mandora Melanesian papeda Melogold Meyer lemon Micrantha Midknight Valencia Orange Murcott Myrtle-leed orange tree Nagpur orange Nasnaran New Zealand grapefruit Ōgonkan Orangelo/Chironja Oroblanco Palestinian sweet lime Persian lime Pixie mandarin Pompia Ponderosa lemon Ponkan Rangpur Reikou Rhobs el Arsa Rough lemon Samuyao Sanbokan Satsuma mandarin Setoka Shangjuan Shonan Gold Smith Red Valencia Sudachi Suruga yuko Sweet lemon Sweet limetta Tangelo Tangerine Tangor Tsunonozomi Valencia orange Variegated pink lemon Volkamer lemon Winged lime Xã Đoài orange Yūkō Yuzu Citrons Balady citron Corsican citron Diamante citron Fingered citron/Buddha's hand Greek citron Moroccan citron Yemenite citron Mandarin oranges Cleopatra mandarin Shīkwāsā Nanfengmiju Tachibana Willowleaf orange Papedas Celebes papeda Mountain "citron" Ichang papeda Pomelos Banpeiyu Dangyuja Kumquats groupKumquat species Hong Kong kumquat Meiwa kumquat Oval kumquat Round kumquat Jiangsu kumquat Malayan kumquat Kumquat hybrids (× Citrofortunella) Calamansi Citrangequat Limequat Mandarinquat Procimequat Sunquat Yuzuquat Australianand Papuanwild limes groupEromocitrus (former genera) Desert lime Microcitrus (former genera) New Guinea wild lime Australian round lime Russell River lime Maiden's wild lime Mount White lime Australian finger lime Brown River finger lime Clymenia (former genera) Clymenia platypoda Clymenia polyandra Oxanthera (former genera) Orange-flowered oxanthera Large-leaf oxanthera Wy-leaf oxanthera Oxanthera brevipes Related genera(perhapsproperly Citrus) Poncirus/Trifoliate orange Drinks Calamansi juice Chūhai Dried lime tea (noomi basra) Grapefruit juice Lemon liqueur Cedratine Curaçao Limoncello Lemonade Mint lemonade Swiss lemonade Lime cordial Limeade Orange juice Triple sec Yuja-hwachae Yuja tea Products Calcium citrate Citric acid Chenpi Dried lime Lemonene Limonene Marmalade Neroli Oleo saccharum Orange flower water Orange oil Orange oil tires Orangeat Pickled lime Chanh muối Preserved lemon Succade Zest Twist Diseases Black spot Canker CTV/Tristeza Exocortis Greening Mal secco Phytophthora citricola Citrus botanists Clara H. Hasse Robert Willard Hodgson Lena B. Smithers Hughes Did Mabberley Clément Rodier Robert Soost Walter Tennyson Swingle Chōzaburō Tanaka Ikuro Takahashi Johann Christoph Volkamer Herbert John Webber Citrus production Citrus rootstock Kumquat production in China Lemon Capital of the World Lime production in Mexico Orange production in Brazil Related topics The Citrus Industry Citrus taxonomy Cold-hardy citrus Hesperidium Japanese citrus List of citrus fruits Mother Orange Tree Orangery University of California Citrus Experiment Station University of California, Riverside Citrus Variety Collection Category Production Commons Taxon identifiersCitrus ×bergamia Wikidata: Q109196 APDB: 153263 Ecocrop: 205644 EPPO: CIDAB EUNIS: 181675 GBIF: 6433772 GRIN: 10698 iNaturalist: 201695 IPNI: 771860-1 IRMNG: 10762966 ITIS: 524859 NCBI: 380129 Observation.org: 116586 Open Tree of Life: 983571 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:771860-1 Tropicos: 50066436 WFO: wfo-0000607952 Authority control databases: National FranceBnF data