Bergamot as an Ingredient in Tea
Answered by: Yvonne Tremblay
Question from: Linda
Posted on: February 26, 2007
We have bought some tea that has this product as an ingredient. It tastes a little lemony, but we do not know what it is. On the box is written "Bergamot" What is it?
Bergamot is a flavour oil that is added to Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas to give its unique aroma and taste (citrus, grapefruit tasting). The essential oil comes from the peel of the Bergamot Orange, a small citrus fruit that is shaped like a pear (grown in Calabria Italy, Africa, Brazil and Argentina) and is not related to the herb bergamot (also called Scarlet Beebalm, Scarlet Monarda) of the mint family (Lamiaceae), named for the similarity of flavour. You can make an herb tea from this herb, known as Oswego Tea, that was made by the Oswego Indians. This herb is a good one to grow as it has beautiful red flowers. It is native to most of eastern North America.
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