Rogue said

Sourcing for bergamot orange peels

Hi,

I would like to make my own Easl grey tea using dried bergamot peels. Would anyone know a source in New York or online for shipping?

Thank you!

Kevin

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I am interested in this also, any ideas would be cool.

Rogue said

I found a place in Calabria Italy but they don’t mail to the US. I don’t think it’s so common here. Other option is to find the fruit and dry the peels I guess. While I’m waiting on that, I’m going to try to use bergamot oil to infuse my own assam tea and make Earl Grey. If I find anything about the peels I’ll post.

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I found huge amounts of it available from China from Alibaba.com. Highly dubious. I will post if I find a better option. Anyone know a good source for edible bergamot oil?

Dexter said

http://www.naturesflavors.com/bergamot-coffee-and-tea-flavoring
Never ordered from them. Was looking for tea flavorings, emailed them asked some questions – got responses, seemed really helpful. Shipping was astronomical to Canada, didn’t order.

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Rogue said

Yep, I wouldn’t order bergamot peels from that site. I think they are some kind of wholesale consolidater who fish for demand then see if they can fill a bulk order. Bergamot peels would be coming from the other direction in Europe I believe.

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Jason Dear said

Think i may have finally found a reputable supplier of dried bergamot peel?! Grown in South Africa, $15 for 250g, but unfortunately it’s $50 minimum spend on this website (out of my price range):

http://www.australherbs.com.au/shop/item/bergamot-peel-organic

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Are you in a climate where you could grow your own tree? In California, you can buy from: https://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/store/sour-orange-trees.htm

I’ve seen one bergamot tree in semi-public space in Napa Valley, a decade ago. I couldn’t vouch for its current status.

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Jason Dear said

Ta for the link. I live in London though, so i think it’s unlikely a tree planted here could yield any fruit!

You might want to keep an eye on this page!
http://www.finefoodspecialist.co.uk/bergamot-citrus-fruit-1kg/

Ahem. May I remind you that pineapples were once grown in England? If that could be accomplished, anything can…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heligan_estate

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Jason Dear said

Yes seen that one ta! (“currently out of season” etc). But after reading around the subject my aforementioned Bergamot lust is fading slightly :

“Bergamot contains extremely large amounts of polyphenols, as compared to other citrus species. Two of these, brutieridin and melitidin, directly inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in a similar way to statins and they are not found in any other citrus derivatives.21

Bergamot is also a source of bergamottin which, along with the chemically related compound 6’,7’-dihydroxybergamottin, is believed to be responsible for the grapefruit juice effect in which the consumption of the juice affects the metabolism of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs.22 Potential side effects of drinking large amounts of bergamot oil can include convulsions and death in children.5"

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergamot_orange#Toxicology

Pomelo is also on the “grapefruit effect” list. On a related note, Lupicia makes a Grapefruit Green tea with chunks of peel. It smells like the first crack into peeling a grapefruit when the oils spray into the air and get all over your hands.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the Wiki/WebMD article. The amount of oil you would have to drink is pretty high!

We don’t blend our own Earl Grey (we get it from Anteaques Tea Shop in Edinburgh), but I know they source their bergamont from a french company. Sorry I can’t be of more help!

I’ve never tried it, but I would encourage trying citron. Older than any other commercially available citrus. There is a Jewish holiday which uses the citron; so it might be possible to find it during that time of the year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etrog

Jason Dear said

I agree. But still glad i saw that info before embarking on a bergamot flavouring odyssey!

Bizarrely, one of the best Earl Grey teas i’ve tasted is from Starbucks. A teapigs type gauze bag, but almost twice the standard size – really packs a bergamotty punch, and you can get a good few brews out of it.

Interesting reading about citron & etrog, ta for the link. Will definitely look out for that too!

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Jason Dear said

Wow, that tea sounds amazing. Will look into buying some, cheers..!

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