What Fruit is Bergamot Oil Extracted From?
Bergamot oil is well-known as a fragrant ingredient in Earl Grey tea, and it is also commonly used in aromatherapy and perfumery. Because of its fascinating chemical composition, the extract has also been used medicinally. Commercial forms of bergamot oil are derived from the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identity Crisis
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The bergamot orange shares a name with bergamot, an unrelated herb from the mint family. All products labeled "bergamot oil" come from the citrus fruit, not the herb.
Etymology
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The bergamot herb was named after the citrus fruit because of its similar odor. The name bergamot comes from the Italian "bergamotta," which roughly translates to "master's pear."
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Origins and Cultivation
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The bergamot citrus tree is native to Southeast Asia. It is also cultivated in Italy, the American Southeast and some regions of Argentina and Brazil.
The Fruit
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The bergamot orange is a lime-green fruit with a similarly textured skin. It is roughly pear-shaped and, like all other citrus fruits, its rind is essentially inedible.
Bergamot Oil
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Bergamot oil is extracted from the rind, which is the most potent and fragrant part of the fruit. Lesser amounts are found in the fruit itself.
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