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The essence of bergamot
Among the things that better represent the province of Reggio Calabria, the bergamot is certainly the unique and original one. It is a special citrus with particular and extremely healthy properties.
The bergamot production area is limited to the Ionian coast of the province and this peculiarity made the fruit become a symbol for the whole area and the city.
The origin of this citrus fruit is uncertain, its yellow colour feature could demonstrate a derivation from preexisting species, due to a genetic mutation.
The story tells that the Spanish Moor sold a branch of this special plant to a Valentino family of Reggio, who grafted it on a sour orange plant in their piece of ground located in the area of Santa Caterina (district of Reggio Calabria).
In fact, there is evidence of an original citrus fruit called limon pusillus caliber, in the south of Calabria, dated back to the XIV century.
The etymology of the name is "Begarmundi", that in Turkish means "the Lord’s pear tree", in fact, the fruit shape is similar to the bergamot pear.
The Bergamot is a high tree that grows from three to four metres, with very fragrant white flowers and glossy, pulpy leaves which never fall, not even in the winter season.
The products of bergamot are: the fruits, the essence or essential oil, the juice and the pulp. The whole fruit has not a retail market, but it is mainly used for the extraction of "ESSENCE".
It is possible to get the juice, as you do with other citrus, but it is very bitter because of the presence of "naringin"; Moreover, thanks to the high content of polyphenols , it is very effective for lowering cholesterol, in particular, the effect should be due to the presence of two flavonoids statin-like (with an activity similar to that of statins), called Brutieridin and Melitidin .
As already mentioned, its main use is concerned with the extraction of essential oils from the fruit peel, as well as from the leaves and flowers.
The bergamot ESSENCE is exported all over the world for its particular characteristics and its extraordinary properties in giving a scent of extreme freshness to perfumery products; it is an essential element of “eau de cologne” and “eau de toilet”, the products that first made the bergamot have a widespread use all over the world.
Today, the essence is mechanically extracted using machines called "peelers", these machines "scrape" the outside part of the fruit under running water and get an emulsion channeled into centrifuges that separate, for difference in specific gravity, the essence from the water.
In case our guests are interested, in the winter season, they can attend the production and extraction cycle of the essence and buy a small quantity.
L'ESSENZA B&B
Via Arangea, 5
89131, REGGIO CALABRIA
Cell.: +39 392 144.22.44
E-mail: info@lessenzabb.com
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