Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria DOP is a citrus fruit unique in the world: 90% of global production comes from a narrow coastal strip of just 100 km in the province of Reggio Calabria. For reasons still not entirely clear to science, bergamot blooms only here.
The entire global perfume industry depends on its essential oil, extracted from the peel through cold pressing: it is the base ingredient of Eau de Cologne and hundreds of perfumes. But bergamot is also a superfood: rich in polyphenols, it is used in tea (Earl Grey), desserts, liqueurs, and gastronomic preparations.
Harvesting takes place between November and March. The traditional cultivation of bergamot is a cultural heritage of Calabria.
