Calabrian Bergamot: from culinary delight to perfume

Smooth, green, fragrant like no other Mediterranean citrus fruit. The Calabrian Bergamot is unique, as unique as its history and the events that have consecrated the essence of Reggio Calabria bergamot, one of the most prestigious PDOs in Calabria, coveted by perfumers all over the world. The result of a spontaneous mutation that occurred in lemons (limes) or bitter oranges in the area around Reggio Calabria, Extending to the so-called Costa dei Gelsomini – the Jasmine Coast on the Ionian Sea, Calabrian Bergamot has become a star in the world of cosmetics and pastry making.

In 1686, a renowned Sicilian ice cream maker opened the world's oldest café in Paris, Café Procop, where ice cream, sorbets, and syrups flavoured with Calabrian Bergamot water were served at the tables, thus launching this sought-after essence onto the market. The same fragrance that tantalised the senses of his neighbour, the apothecary who first had the intuition to transform Calabrian Bergamot essential oil into a perfume essence.

Don't you know, my dear lady, that in every exotic and international perfume, if it aspires to the highest standard, you will find the product of Mr Bergamot. This plant-based fixative, native to one of the most beautiful corners of the world, comes from a tree that is sheer poetry and boasts an exquisite aroma – it is a veritable perfume in itself.

Kazimiera Alberti (The soul of Calabria)

Writers, artists, and travellers of all ages go to great lengths to get their hands on a few drops of the renowned Calabrian essence. Gabriele D'Annunzio, the "Vate", admits he must have it to seduce his mistresses. What are the actual properties and benefits of Calabrian bergamot today? Which supply chain process established Green Gold as a branded product with the designation "Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria – Olio Essenziale DOP" (Reggio Calabria Bergamot – PDO Essential Oil)?

Reggio Calabria bergamot essence is extracted from the fruit of three varieties (Feminella, Castagnaro and Fantastico, all belonging to the Citrus Bergamia Risso species) using a process that draws on ancient techniques and closely guarded secrets. Harvesting takes place between November and March, strictly by hand: after breaking the stalk with the thumb, each bergamot is immediately laid in a crate. Extraction was once done by hand, using what was known as the "sponge method", but today a more profitable cold extraction method using a special peeling machine is preferred.

The area's particular microclimatic conditions give Calabrian Bergamot its unique organoleptic profile: the fruit has remarkable antiseptic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Its sour taste makes it inedible in its natural state; however, after processing, its sweetness is the foundation for fine liqueurs, creams, glazes, jams, drinks, ice granitas, ice creams, candied fruits, and even sweets.

To learn more about the secrets of Calabrian Bergamot, you need to take a trip to its city of origin, Reggio Calabria, and indulge in the scents of the Strait of Messina. The first stage is a visit to the Citrus Museum, one of seven corporate museums in Calabria, where you can admire the machinery used to extract both Reggio Calabria bergamot essence and juice, the two ingredients that have served as the basis for all subsequent processing, from ancient times to the present day.

The "star" of the museum? The famous Gangeri bergamot machine, derived from a model invented in 1840 by Nicola Barillà of Reggio Calabria. The rich photographic collection illustrating the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of Calabrian Bergamot is accompanied by another dedicated to two other important Calabrian essences: jasmine and opium poppy.

You can wrap up your visit to the "City of the Bergamot" with a stroll along the "Falcomatà" Seafront Promenade, a visit to the unmissable National Archaeological Museum, home to the Riace Bronzes, and a tour of the Art Nouveau buildings that house various perfumeries and herbalists, where you can buy the essential souvenir: a bottle of Calabrian Bergamot cologne.