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Citrus bergamia, known as the bergamot orange, is a fragrant citrus fruit about the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime depending on ripeness. Genetic studies suggest it is a hybrid between lemon—itself a mix of bitter orange and citron—and bitter orange. Bergamot extracts are valued for their aromatic properties and are used in food, tea, snus, perfumes, and cosmetics. However, applying bergamot oil on skin can increase photosensitivity, raising the risk of sun damage.

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Etymology

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').7

Description

Citrus bergamia is a small tree that blossoms during the winter. The juice tastes less sour than lemon, but more bitter than grapefruit.8

Phytochemicals

Bergamot fruit or oil contains flavonoids, such as neoeriocitrin, naringin, neohesperidin, melitidin, brutieridin, and bergamottin.910 Bergamot leaves contain different indole alkaloids, such as N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine.11

Taxonomy

See also: Citrus taxonomy § Oranges

The bergamot orange is unrelated to the herbs known as bergamot, wild bergamot, bergamot mint, or bergamint – Monarda didyma, M. fistulosa, and Eau de Cologne mint (Mentha, disputed species). 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". Citrus bergamia has also been classified as C. aurantium subsp. bergamia (i.e., a subspecies of bitter orange).12 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".

Production

The bergamot is a citrus fruit native mostly to 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 favourable. The fruit is also largely cultivated in Argentina, Brazil, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey and South-East Asia.

It is also grown in southern France13 and the Ivory Coast for the essential oil and in Antalya in southern Turkey for its marmalade.14 The fruit is not generally grown for juice consumption.15 However, in Mauritius where it is grown on a small-scale basis, it is largely consumed as juice by the locals.

One hundred bergamot oranges yield about 3 ounces (85 g) of bergamot oil.16

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.17

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.18

Uses

Tea and other uses

An essence extracted from the aromatic skin of this sour fruit is used to flavour Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas,19 as well as confectionery (including Turkish delight).20 Bergamot is one of the most common "casings" (flavourings) added to Swedish snus, a smokeless tobacco product.

Fragrance

Bergamot oil is one of the most commonly used ingredients in perfumery.21 It is prized for its ability to combine with an array of scents to form a bouquet of aromas that complement each other.22 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. The first use of bergamot oil as a fragrance ingredient was recorded in 1714, and can be found in the Farina Archive in Cologne.

Toxicology

In several patch test studies, application of some sources of bergamot oil directly to the skin of guinea pigs was shown to have a concentration-dependent phototoxic effect of increasing redness after exposure to ultraviolet light (due to the chemical bergapten, and possibly also citropten, bergamottin, geranial, and neral).232425 This is a property shared by many other citrus fruits and other members of Rutaceae, including rue.

Skin effects

Used in cosmetics and perfume products, bergamot may cause skin irritation.26 In the past, psoralen extracted from bergamot oil was used in tanning accelerators and sunscreens. Known to be photocarcinogenic since 1959,27 the substances nonetheless were used in tanning activators until 1995,28 contributing to many cases of melanoma and death.29

Research

As of 2017, clinical research conducted on bergamot oil has been of poor quality, with no conclusions about its possible biological effects.3031 Consuming bergamot oil as a component of tea may cause muscle cramps.32 Use on the skin may be unsafe, particularly for children and pregnant women, and may cause rashes resulting from photodermatotoxicity.33

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References

  1. 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. https://doi.org/10.21273%2FJASHS.126.3.309 ↩

  2. 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). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110118101600.htm ↩

  3. Curk, Franck; Ollitrault, Frédérique; Garcia-Lor, Andres; Luro, François; Navarro, 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. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4817432 ↩

  4. "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bergamot-oil.html ↩

  5. Davidson, 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. 0-19-280681-5 ↩

  6. "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bergamot-oil.html ↩

  7. "Bergamot". Online Etymology Dictionary. 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022. https://www.etymonline.com/word/bergamot ↩

  8. Anika (2021-10-25). "Bergamot orange: planting, care & use". Plantura. Retrieved 2025-02-18. https://plantura.garden/uk/fruits/bergamot-orange/bergamot-orange-overview ↩

  9. "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bergamot-oil.html ↩

  10. Cappello AR, Dolce V, Iacopetta D, Martello M, Fiorillo M, Curcio R, Muto L, Dhanyalayam D (2015). "Bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) Flavonoids 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. /wiki/Mini-Reviews_in_Medicinal_Chemistry ↩

  11. 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. doi:10.1021/jf401448q. ISSN 1520-5118. PMID 23682903. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236917343 ↩

  12. "Citrus bergamia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-09-07. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=10698 ↩

  13. "Bergamot Orange - Citrus aurantium ssp bergamia". tradewindsfruit.com. http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/bergamot.htm ↩

  14. 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. https://archive.today/20130418182958/http://www.zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=303888&title=recellerin-gozdesi-bergamut ↩

  15. Davidson, 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. 0-19-280681-5 ↩

  16. Brannt, William Theodore; Schaedler, Karl. A Practical Treatise on Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils ↩

  17. "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. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425045946/http://www.ismea.it/flex/AppData/Redational/Normative/20051206000100010.pdf ↩

  18. Board, Niir (2011). "Oil of Bergamot." The Complete Technology Book of Essential Oils (Aromatic Chemicals). p. 75. ISBN 978-81-7833-066-2. /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩

  19. "Citrus bergamia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-09-07. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=10698 ↩

  20. Garbee, Jenn (2011, January 06). Three generations of Turkish delight in Southern California. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-artisan-turkish-delight-20110106-story.html ↩

  21. Zoe Diana Draelos (14 October 2015). Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures. Wiley. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-1-118-65546-7. 978-1-118-65546-7 ↩

  22. 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. 978-1-4398-6229-2 ↩

  23. Dugo G, Di Giacomo A (2002). Citrus: the genus citrus. London: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-415-28491-2. OCLC 49784202. 978-0-415-28491-2 ↩

  24. 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. /wiki/Dermatologica ↩

  25. 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. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2007.05.016. PMID 17669618. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩

  26. "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bergamot-oil.html ↩

  27. Urbach, F (1959). "Modification of ultraviolet carcinogenesis by photoactive agents". J Invest Dermatol. 32 (2, Part 2): 373–378. doi:10.1038/jid.1959.63. PMID 13641813. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fjid.1959.63 ↩

  28. 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. /wiki/Int._J._Cancer ↩

  29. 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. https://doi.org/10.1023%2FA%3A1008205513771 ↩

  30. Mannucci, C.; Navarra, 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. /wiki/Phytotherapy_Research ↩

  31. Navarra 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. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345801 ↩

  32. "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bergamot-oil.html ↩

  33. "Bergamot oil". Drugs.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bergamot-oil.html ↩