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Bergamot: health benefits of bergamot
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| Bergamot: health benefits of bergamot |
The health benefits of bergamot are still somewhat unknown, this small citrus fruit with its unique flavor and fragrance reveals delicious surprises. We help you choose it, store it and cook it.
Juice, bark, zest, or essential oil, everything is good in bergamot! Its deliciously sour and slightly bitter flavors go well with both savory and sweet dishes.
History and characteristics of bergamot
Fruit of the bergamot tree, a small tree of the Rutaceae family, bergamot is believed to be native to the Orient. Introduced in Europe by the Crusaders, it is today mostly produced in Italy, on the Calabrian coast, but it is also found in the Maghreb. Weighing between 80 and 200 g for the larger ones, this small citrus fruit looks a bit like lemon, with a smooth and thick skin of yellow-orange color and green flesh. Its taste is halfway between that of bitter orange and lime. Its powerful, acidic, and slightly bitter aroma in fact a portion of food that is consumed sparingly. In the form of essential oil, bergamot is widely used in perfumery (especially in cologne) and in certain food preparations.
When to eat bergamot?
- Winter citrus par excellence, bergamot is available mainly in January and February.
Bergamot Calories and Nutrition Facts
Like other citrus fruits, bergamot has high levels of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight against cellular aging and strengthens the immune system. A real asset against winter ailments! Certain components of bergamot would also help fight against bad cholesterol. It is also recommended to help relieve stomach cramps, bloating, and transit problems. Bergamot essential oil, for its part, is known to be soothing and sedative. In massage, it is recommended to fight against depression and stress!
- Nutritional value of bergamot per 100 g
- Proteins 1.7 g
- Carbohydrates 21 g
- Lipids 0.5 g
- Calories 96 kcal
How to choose bergamot?
Choose fruit with smooth skin, without brown spots or bruises. Also, prefer bergamot with an orange-yellow color, and quite heavy in the hand. Be careful not to confuse it with a lemon! In order not to be mistaken, know that bergamot is rounder and that one of its ends is pointed, and the other slightly sunken. You will find it mainly in organic stores. Essential oil and dried bergamot (often available in slices or powder) can be found in delicatessens or online.
How to store bergamot?
Like all citrus fruits in general, bergamot can be stored for a few days at room temperature, away from humidity. You can extend its shelf life for at least 1 week by placing it in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.
How to cook and taste bergamot?
The tangy and bitter flavors of bergamot make it a precious ally in cooking and baking. A single watchword, however, moderation so that its powerful scents do not take over. A few drops, a hint of chopped zest or a few pinches of dried powdered bergamot replace the lemon and are enough to sublimate a fish fillet, a tagine, or a seafood dish. Bergamot also goes very well with fruit salads. and certain pastries, such as madeleines or cakes, and is enjoyed in jam or marmalade. It can also flavor a crème brûlée or a tea: you can make your homemade Earl Gray tea by infusing dried slices of bergamot in it! Bergamot is also used in confectionery: for example the traditional bergamots from Nancy, where the essence of bergamot is incorporated into a sugar syrup.
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