Can You Eat Bergamot? (What is it Used For?)

Bergamot falls into the citrus family. It is shaped just like an orange but, with color same as a lime. Sometimes when a bit ripened, the color could be light yellow. It has a unique flavor and scent, the same flavor and aroma that can be felt when taking a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Yep. The same sweet aroma of the Earl Grey tea that you love to sniff endlessly before taking a sip? That aroma is as a result of the bergamot oil that was used in making the tea bags.

Bergamot is overly acidic, with an intense fragrance laced with a spicy undertone. Its taste is a blend of sour and bitter. What a combination right?

It is said that the first roots of the bergamot tree were found in the eastern part of Asia however, the fruit gained its popularity in a town in Italy known as Bergamo. But can you eat bergamot?

We will answer this question in this post and also discuss other things you need to know about bergamot!

Can You Eat Bergamot?

Although the bergamot is a fruit, it cannot be termed as an edible one and cannot be eaten on its own as it’s too acidic. It is better used as a flavoring in dishes. The unique bergamot flavor can be found in some brand of custard, pancake syrups, mayonnaise and others.

You can use bergamot to enhance the milder flavors of oranges and lemons, while adding exciting complexity when combined with yuzu or kumquats.

See Also: Can You Eat Shrimp Heads?

What Happens When You Eat Bergamot?

What really happens when you eat bergamot? This will probably be very difficult to find out because you’ll probably never get to fully eat it due to its unpalatable and very acidic taste.

Now, even though it cannot be eaten, there are still tons of things that you can do with a fresh bergamot. We’ll highlight some of them below:

What is Bergamot Used For?

Now that we know that the bergamot cannot be eaten, what then can it be used for?

Let’s begin with its oil.

1. The bergamot oil is mostly used as a fragrance oil as it’s long lasting and has a pleasant scent also.

Here’s a tip to note: have the bergamot oil added to your deodorants, air freshener dispenser, liquid soap or even body cream. Trust us, the smell is heavenly plus, it is very potent in dispelling unpleasant odour.

But you should note though, that it is not advised to rub the bergamot oil directly on your skin and getting it exposed to sunlight.

This is because the oil including every essential oil under the citrus umbrella, have the tendency of affecting your skin when put under ultraviolet rays.

Have a little infused into other body oils for best result.

2. Did you know that you can also experience the unique fragrance and aroma of the bergamot tea just by infusing a slice of the fruit into your tea?

You can achieve this in two ways; either you cut a slice of its peel and dip in your tea or cut a slice of the fruit itself and have its juice squeezed into your cup of tea. Go ahead and try it out!

See Also: Can You Eat Leeks Raw?

3. The bergamot itself can also be used as a perfect substitute for lemon. When baking a cake or making a dish that requires lemon juice as part of its recipes, the bergamot is just the right substitute in cases where there is none.

4. The citrus fragrance of the bergamot has been and is still a key ingredient in both men and women’s body care products ranging from cosmetics to toiletries and others. Its scent is also used in the production of scent candles too.

5. Bergamot is also used as a core ingredient in some hair products too. For people that love their hair smelling heavenly and feeling smooth and soft, you just need to add a few drops of its juice into your hair cream and shampoo. A lot of people have testified to the magical ways in which it remedies irritating scalp too.

6. The bergamot oil is often used in aromatherapy. It has been tested by a lot of people and proven too in various studies to improve ones mood.

Sniff or have the bergamot inhaled when you feel tensed or stressed and experience the relief and calmness it offers you.

Precautionary measures when using the bergamot oil

Below are some of the safety measures to take note of when using the bergamot oil:

1. The bergamot is not to be applied directly onto the skin. For people with very sensitive skin, it may cause certain skin reactions.

2. If you experience any form of allergy when using the bergamot oil, kindly discontinue and seek better ways of infusing it into your body care products.

3. Bergamot oil are to be kept securely away from the reach of children. This is to avoid it being ingested by them because of its high acidic concentration.

4. When it comes to consuming the bergamot tea, moderation should be your watch word. Furthermore, if you notice any side effect as you drink, do well to slow down on it and see a physician.

5. Finally, always have it in mind that it is safer to have essential oils of which the bergamot oil is one, mixed with other topical or body oils. Diluting it is very important to minimize the effect of its acidity on your body.

See Also: Can You Eat Rutabaga Raw?

Conclusion

The orange/limelike bergamot is a multipurpose fruit used by a lot of people in different ways. One of the common ways it is being used is as a flavoring for teas and a lot of dishes.

However, you must take note that the product you are taking, has the original bergamot flavor and not artificially flavored. At the same time, the fruit itself cannot be said to be edible because of its increased acidic concentration.

You care to have a feel of the refreshing bergamot tea? Purchase a pack of the famous Earl Grey tea and sip away. Asides being eaten, we are sure you enjoyed the many other things that both the rind, the juice and the bergamot itself can be used for.

Yet to try some of them? Go ahead and do so, it’s all facts and no fluff!