Bergamot, a citrus fruit with mysterious origins
It is difficult to trace the geographical origins of bergamot tree. Some believe that it was introduced to Europe by the Crusaders. Its name would then come from the Ottoman “Bay Armut” which means “The Master’s Pear”. But others think that the bergamot was imported from the Canary Islands by Christopher Columbus. It would take its name from Berga, a Catalan town where it was then cultivated... One thing is certain: today, the bergamot tree grows mainly in Calabria, southern Italy.
Calabrian bergamot
At Kusmi, choose quality products, to original and unique flavors is our number 1 concern. The choice of these ingredients is important and the quality of our supply is the key to our success.
We therefore make it a point of honor to choose the best in each category: fruits, flowers, spices...: all carefully selected for their quality and flavor, produced in the greatest respect for the planet.
For the bergamot, it is in Calabria, in the south of Italy that we will meet you. With a warm climate, little frost, regular rains, the south of Italy offers unique climatic conditions for the production of bergamot.
Bergamot, star of Earl Gray tea
This is the bergamot which gives its inimitable taste to the'Earl Gray, a tea well known across the Channel. To obtain theEarl Gray, we spray essential oil of bergamot on dried black tea leaves. This flavored blend also exists in white tea, green tea or Oolong tea versions. The tea favorite of the Queen of England would take its name from the Earl Charles Gray, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834. Many legends revolve around its exact origin... One of them tells that a Chinese employee in the service of the Gray family had the idea of enhancing the taste of tea by dipping a slice of bergamot. It is also said that Charles Gray would have one day received a bergamot and that, not knowing how to prepare it, he would have cut a piece of it to put it in his cup of tea. Would you have tried it?
The virtues of bergamot
If theEarl Gray has traveled through History, it is also because the bergamot would present many benefits :
• We say of this citrus that it would help manage stress and make it easier to fall asleep.
• In infusion, bergamot is said to have soothing effects on digestive disorders such as stomach cramps and spasms. The fruit also helps fight intestinal parasites.
• Applying essential oil would calm skin irritations such as eczema, hives or psoriasis. However, be careful with exposure to the sun, as this oil is photosensitizing.
The bergamot also contains nutrients good for health:
• Its high concentration of vitamin C would boost immune defenses.
• This fruit is rich in vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant also good for eyesight.
• Citrus fruit also contains flavonoids, molecules with antioxidant properties.
Bergamot in all its forms
The bergamot would be good for health, but also and above all for the palate! Because in addition to its essential oil which gives its unique taste to the Earl Gray tea, its juice, zest and bark are suitable for making tasty sweet and savory dishes. The flesh of bergamot has an acidic and bitter taste. If you're feeling a little hungry, we advise you to eat it as is, a real delight! Its lumpy-looking zest is readily eaten grated: its aromas generous underlines the taste of the dishes for even more flavors in the mouth! The bergamot juice is ideal for livening up a dish: it will enhance a seafood platter and give a boost to a marinade. Pour a few drops of its essence to give a boost to your fruit salads and sauces. The bergamot leaves exude a rich fragrance and are used as an aromatic herb. They are traditionally found in Thai or Malaysian dishes. For dessert, thebergamot peel, candied or reduced to powder, subtly enhances your sweet treats such as jams, pastries or even biscuits.
Recipes: making an Earl Gray latte
The bergamot black tea is delicious accompanied by milk (animal or vegetable).
For a gourmet break, discover two delicious recipes made with Earl Gray tea.
Earl Gray tea with milk recipe – 2 to 3 cups:
Discover a simple recipe for bergamot tea with milk.
1. Pour 100 ml of water into a saucepan.
2. Turn off the heat when the water comes to a boil.
3. Add 8 g of our Earl Gray Kusmi Tea.
4. Leave infuse 3 to 5 min.
5. Add 250 ml of milk.
6. Heat over low heat.
7. Stop the heat before boiling.
8. Pour your Earl Gray with milk in a cup by filtering the leaves with a strainer.
9. For more flavor, add sugar, honey, cinnamon or cocoa powder.
Bergamot and soy milk tea recipe – 2 cups
For those who prefer to mix their Earl Gray to a vegetable milk, we opt for soy milk!
1. Heat your water to 90°C using your kettle.
2. Place 6 g of our tea there Earl Gray Kusmi Tea.
3. Pour 200 ml of hot water over it.
4. Let the preparation infuse for 5 minutes.
5. Pour the tea into the cups by filtering the tea leaves.
6. Add between 30 and 40 ml of soy milk.
To surprise your guests during a tea time, replace theTraditional Earl Gray by a Anastasia black tea, a bergamot essential oil tea, lemon and orange blossom.