what is bergamot

Bergamot is a type of citrus fruit native to Italy. It is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime, depending on ripeness. Bergamot is a probable hybrid of lemon and bitter orange. The fruit is highly aromatic, and the essential oils are extracted from the rind. The fragrant oil is used to make perfumes, colognes, scented soaps, and of course, it gives Earl Grey tea its signature flavor and aroma. Bergamot oil has several active chemicals and is commonly used as aromatherapy. When applied to the skin, the chemicals in bergamot oil can make the skin sensitive to sunlight. Bergamot is used for high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. It is also used for anxiety, mental alertness, joint pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses. Bergamot is sometimes called a bergamot orange, although it is yellow colored like a lemon and is a bitter, inedible citrus fruit.