The word bergamot refers to two different fruits, one very sour and similar to an orange or lemon, and the other a very sweet variety of pear. Oddly, the two fruits acquired the name bergamot from distinct sources. The sour fruit takes its name directly from Bergamo, a city in northern Italy where it was either once cultivated or through which it was exported to other parts of Europe; in turn, the city of Bergamo acquired its name from a Celtic or Ligurian source meaning mountain (thus making it a distant relative of the berg in iceberg). This bergamot appeared in English near the end of the seventeenth century. The other bergamot arose when Italians corrupted the Turkish name for a sweet fruit—beg-armudu, meaning prince’s pear—to bergamotta, probably under the mistaken impression that this fruit was also grown in Bergamo. From Italian, bergamotta entered French as bergamotte, which English adopted as bergamot in the early seventeenth century.
A citrus orange with a rind that yields an essential oil.
Citrus-scented leaves and flowers make a pleasant, soothing, sleep inducing tisane. Young leaf tips and flowers improve appearance and taste of salads. Valuable beeplant.
This passage pertains to a particular botanical species which belongs to the mint family and is indigenous to the western hemisphere. The plant typically attains a height of two to three feet and is characterized by delicate foliage that bears a resemblance to cotton, as well as striking red or purple flowers that grow in clusters. Additionally, it is known for emitting a fragrance reminiscent of lemons. The foliage of this species is commonly utilized in the preparation of tea, as well as refreshing cold beverages. According to historical accounts, the Massachusetts Bay colonists consumed a type of tea made from this species, known as bergamot, during their boycott of shipments from the British.