Bergamont?

[Graham.C]

Anyone know where to get bergamot rind, or better yet the fruit itself? I was thinking of tossing some in a wheat beer.

[akr71]

Let me ask my wife. For some reason I think she found some, or found a similar plant substitute that she plans to grow.

[Graham.C]

Let me ask my wife. For some reason I think she found some, or found a similar plant substitute that she plans to grow.

That would be great. I am thoroughly addicted to really bergamont-y earl grey and figure it would be damn good with that farmhouse yeast.

[derek]

It's two different plants. There's a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia, that would be the "bergamot rind") which is like an orange. That probably wouldn't grow here. But there's a herb which has the same oil to produce the flavor. There are two species: Monarda didyma (Bergamot) and Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm). I'm pretty sure I've seen "Bee Balm" in garden centres.

[Graham.C]

It's two different plants. There's a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia, that would be the "bergamot rind") which is like an orange. That probably wouldn't grow here. But there's a herb which has the same oil to produce the flavor. There are two species: Monarda didyma (Bergamot) and Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm). I'm pretty sure I've seen "Bee Balm" in garden centres.

Is it the herb that is in the tea than? Wikipedia told me otherwise, but this is one of those grey area wiki things. I imagine there is a lot of miss-information put out by anyone with interest in the Tea trade.

[akr71]

It's two different plants. There's a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia, that would be the "bergamot rind") which is like an orange. That probably wouldn't grow here. But there's a herb which has the same oil to produce the flavor. There are two species: Monarda didyma (Bergamot) and Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm). I'm pretty sure I've seen "Bee Balm" in garden centres.

Yes -that's it! We planted Bee Balm. I'm sure we have seeds to spare.

[derek]

It's two different plants. There's a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia, that would be the "bergamot rind") which is like an orange. That probably wouldn't grow here. But there's a herb which has the same oil to produce the flavor. There are two species: Monarda didyma (Bergamot) and Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm). I'm pretty sure I've seen "Bee Balm" in garden centres.

Yes -that's it! We planted Bee Balm. I'm sure we have seeds to spare.

I've always loved Earl Grey tea - I drink a liter or more of it daily (so more EGT than beer), and have often wondered which Bergamot tea makers use. I'm pretty sure that the original was the citrus, but I think everyone uses the herb these days (though probably Monarda didyma rather than Bee Balm). The great stuff I get from Java Blend, 2kg at a time, has little flowers in it that should be identifiable.

[Graham.C]

It's two different plants. There's a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia, that would be the "bergamot rind") which is like an orange. That probably wouldn't grow here. But there's a herb which has the same oil to produce the flavor. There are two species: Monarda didyma (Bergamot) and Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm). I'm pretty sure I've seen "Bee Balm" in garden centres.

Yes -that's it! We planted Bee Balm. I'm sure we have seeds to spare.

I've always loved Earl Grey tea - I drink a liter or more of it daily (so more EGT than beer), and have often wondered which Bergamot tea makers use. I'm pretty sure that the original was the citrus, but I think everyone uses the herb these days (though probably Monarda didyma rather than Bee Balm). The great stuff I get from Java Blend, 2kg at a time, has little flowers in it that should be identifiable.

They could also be jasmine flowers. I think some premium tea's put those in for decoration and a slight fruity/sweet flavor. Then again, maybe that's just what I always thought those were and really have no idea.

[derek]

They could also be jasmine flowers. I think some premium tea's put those in for decoration and a slight fruity/sweet flavor. Then again, maybe that's just what I always thought those were and really have no idea.

No, Jasmine has a very distinctive flavor.