What Fruits Have Bergamot? Uncovering the Unique Citrus Hybrid

January 8, 2026 •

3 min read

While many people wonder what fruits have bergamot flavor, the fact is that bergamot is a unique citrus fruit itself, famously used for its aromatic essential oil. A hybrid of bitter orange and lemon, its distinct fragrance is the key ingredient, rather than the fruit's pulp.

Quick Summary

Bergamot is a hybrid citrus fruit, a cross between bitter orange and lemon. The essential oil extracted from its rind provides its signature floral and zesty flavor.

Key Points

Bergamot is a fruit, not a flavor found in other fruits: The distinct aromatic quality comes from the essential oil pressed from the rind of the Citrus bergamia fruit.
Bergamot is a citrus hybrid: It is a cross between a bitter orange and a lemon or citron, which gives it a unique flavor profile.
The flavor is most famous in Earl Grey tea: Black tea leaves are scented with bergamot essential oil to create the classic Earl Grey blend.
The fruit itself is too bitter to eat raw: Due to its intense sour and bitter taste, bergamot is rarely eaten fresh.
It is most notably cultivated in Calabria, Italy: Over 90% of the world's bergamot comes from this specific coastal region, which has the ideal microclimate for growth.
It is often mistaken for other fruits and herbs: Botanically unrelated plants, such as Makrut lime and the herb wild bergamot (Monarda), can cause confusion due to similar names or appearance.

Understanding the Bergamot Citrus

Before delving into what fruits contain bergamot flavor, it's crucial to understand what bergamot is. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a small, fragrant citrus fruit, roughly the size of an orange, with a lemon-yellow or greenish rind depending on ripeness. It is a hybrid of a bitter orange and either a lemon or a citron. Unlike more common citrus fruits, the bergamot's pulp is exceptionally sour and bitter, making it unsuitable for eating raw. Its true value lies in the intensely aromatic essential oil found within its bumpy peel.

This unique microclimate-dependent fruit is grown almost exclusively in the Calabria region of Southern Italy, which produces over 90% of the world's supply. This exclusivity is one reason why fresh bergamot fruit is rarely found in most supermarkets.

The Source of the Flavor

When people taste "bergamot" in food or drink, they are almost always experiencing the essential oil extracted from the fruit's rind. This oil contains a complex mixture of compounds, including limonene, linalyl acetate, and linalool, which create its distinctive fresh, floral, and slightly spicy aroma. There are no other fruits that naturally contain bergamot; the flavor is added using the essential oil.

The most famous use of this oil is in Earl Grey tea, where black tea leaves are scented with bergamot oil. The oil, or sometimes juice concentrate, is also used in various culinary applications.

Common Uses of Bergamot Flavoring:

Earl Grey Tea: Black tea infused with bergamot essential oil.
Marmalades and Jams: Utilizes the slightly bitter flavor of the peel.
Confectionery: Adds a citrus note to candies and Turkish delight.
Baked Goods: Zest and juice flavor cakes and pastries.
Cocktails and Drinks: Used by mixologists in beverages.
Savory Dishes: Juice or zest adds acidity to marinades and sauces.

Fruits Related to and Mistaken for Bergamot

As a hybrid of bitter orange and lemon/citron, these are bergamot's closest relatives. The chinotto orange shares some flavor compounds but is distinct. The Makrut lime, native to Southeast Asia, is a common misidentification due to its bumpy rind and occasional translation issues, but it is a different fruit with a distinct use of its aromatic leaves in Thai cuisine. North American herbs like wild bergamot or bee balm (Monarda didyma) are botanically unrelated to citrus bergamot.

Comparison Table: Bergamot vs. Makrut Lime


Feature	Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)	Makrut Lime (Citrus hystrix)
Origin	Calabria, Italy	Southeast Asia
Appearance	Size of an orange, with a lemon-yellow to green, bumpy rind	Smaller, green, and very bumpy rind
Culinary Use	Primarily the essential oil from the rind for flavoring. Pulp is bitter.	The aromatic leaves (makrut lime leaves) and rind are used in Thai cuisine.
Flavor Profile	Zesty, floral, and slightly spicy notes.	Intense, fresh, lime-like, and slightly herbaceous aroma.
Common Association	Earl Grey tea, perfume.	Thai green curry, Tom Yum soup.

The Genetic Lineage of Bergamot

Scientific analysis confirms bergamot's mixed ancestry. Its genetics point to a cross between bitter orange and likely a lemon or citron. This hybrid nature explains its distinctive profile and chemically rich essential oil, highly prized in fragrance and food industries.

Conclusion: The Final Answer on Bergamot Fruits

No other fruits naturally contain bergamot. Bergamot is a unique citrus fruit whose sought-after flavor comes from the essential oil of its rind. The widespread use of this flavoring in products like Earl Grey tea causes the confusion. Understanding this distinction highlights the exclusivity of this highly valued Italian citrus. For the best flavor, look for products using genuine bergamot essential oil from Calabria.

Learn more about the botany and origins of citrus fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bergamot is a type of citrus fruit, a hybrid resulting from a cross between a bitter orange and either a lemon or a citron.

Earl Grey tea is flavored with the essential oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot fruit, not the fruit pulp itself.

While technically edible, fresh bergamot fruit is very sour and bitter and is generally not eaten raw. Its juice, zest, and oil are used for flavoring.

Although visually similar, bergamot has a more complex, floral aroma and a much more bitter, less palatable pulp than a lemon. It is also a different species of citrus.

Over 90% of the world's bergamot is cultivated in the Calabria region of Southern Italy, though it can also be found in other parts of the world.

No, bergamot and Makrut lime are two entirely different citrus fruits. Makrut lime has a very distinct, bumpy green rind and its aromatic leaves are often used in cooking.

No, wild bergamot, also known as bee balm or Monarda, is an aromatic flowering herb native to North America and is not botanically related to the citrus bergamot fruit.

Bergamot essential oil is typically extracted by cold-pressing the rind of the bergamot fruit, a process that preserves its delicate fragrance.