Drinking a cup during a break between work, comforting a friend with a hot drink or enjoying fragrant tea on the darkest winter evening - tea drinking does not need a big occasion, and the pleasure of the process always cheers you up. Now there are the most unexpected and extravagant types of tea. The abundance of varieties and additives makes it possible for each person to find what he likes. It is not for nothing that the British made tea culture their main feature. Studies confirm that England is in the top twenty in terms of the health of the population and, interestingly, the main merit lies precisely in the systematic consumption of tea up to 6 times a day! In addition to taste and aesthetics, all tea contains antioxidants. One of the most useful and not losing popularity for several centuries is tea with bergamot.
Content:
for women
for men
during pregnancy
when breastfeeding
for kids
Bergamot tea raises or lowers blood pressure
Which tea with bergamot is better: black or green
When to Harvest and How to Dry Bergamot for Tea
how to dry
What is bergamot
Many people believe that bergamot is a herb. There is a substitute for a real plant, which also has useful properties. This is a herbaceous perennial of the monard, but it is important to understand that citrus bergamia is actually an evergreen citrus tree. It belongs to the genus ruta, its fruits are shaped like a pear. Trees grow up to 10 meters. The branches are covered with long thorns, because of this, harvesting is significantly complicated.
Bergamot blooms in spring, and the harvest lasts from mid-October to late November. Due to its appearance, the second name of the fruit of the plant is the "princely pear". Ripe bergamot is yellow-green in color with a thick wrinkled peel, rich in essential oils, has a characteristic pleasant smell.
Coniferous, cold and delicate citrus aroma will not leave anyone indifferent. The smell of bergamot is a natural pheromone that attracts the opposite sex. Due to its fresh aroma, in addition to tea, bergamot is actively used in perfumery and cooking. The largest plantations of this plant are located in the southern Italian province of Calabria. Countries in Asia and South America with the same subtropical climate are trying to catch up with the Mediterranean in terms of bergamot sales, but Italy will have a leading position for a long time to come. The most fragrant and high-quality citrus is considered to be grown on its banks and under its sun. Today, bergamot plantings occupy 1,500 hectares on the Ionian coast. Up to 20,000 tons of fruits per year are harvested in the capital of fragrant bergamot.
Early references to the use of this citrus appeared in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the distant 1750, Nicola Parisi planted the first "bergamotteto", that is, a bergamot garden. The fruit is a hybrid of citron and Cítrus aurántium (kinotto), also two citrus fruits whose beneficial properties have made bergamot a versatile remedy for a wide variety of health problems. The plant is relatively unpretentious and can be grown at home, including in an apartment.
Composition and calories
The calorie content of bergamot tea depends on additives such as sugar, honey, etc. Citrus itself contains the most carbohydrates (8.1 g per 100 g of product), while proteins and fats are much less (proteins - 0.9 g per 100 g, fat 0.2 g per 100 g). Tea retains almost all the vitamins and minerals of citrus. These include saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A, C, PP, some of the group B, E. Bergamot extracts are also rich in minerals, among which are zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, calcium, phosphorus, selenium and manganese .
Bergamot owes its smell to organic flavors. Despite the small amount (alpha-bergamoten 0.3% and beta-bisabolene 0.6%), these substances provide the tree with impenetrable protection against insect pests. Well, for a person, bergamot combines the sweetness of mandarin, the sourness of lemon and the slight bitterness of orange, creating a unique bouquet of flavors.
The most useful in bergamot are furocoumarins contained in the pulp. They are responsible for the photosensitizing effect. It is these substances that are responsible for all the positive qualities of bergamot associated with the skin. Citrus also contains bisabolene, limonene, bergapten, terpineol and nerol - the essential oils of the peel, on which all the medicinal properties of the plant are based.
Benefits of bergamot tea
For women
A drink with bergamot will help girls solve skin problems. Absolutely any peeling and rash can be cured with bergamot tincture. With careful handling of the concentration of active substances, tea eliminates inflammatory processes (acne) and soothes skin irritations of varying degrees of complexity. The number of acne and blackheads will decrease due to the antiseptic action, the general secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands in the fatty areas of the epidermis is normalized. This will help women who suffer from sweating because the antioxidants in the tea will help shrink pores.
The product has a positive effect on the health of the female reproductive system. Tea with bergamot has a particularly powerful effect on the skin, having a lot of furocoumarins in its composition. They, in turn, contribute to the lightening of age spots due to the formation of melanin.
The drink has an antiparasitic effect. For an even tan, you can also drink a drink, but you should do it with caution - it is better not to use it less than 1-1.5 hours before sunbathing, otherwise the likelihood of burning will increase.
To accelerate hair growth and reduce hair loss, it is enough to make a strong tincture of bergamot tea and rinse the curls with it after washing your hair. Such a procedure will strengthen the roots, help in solving problems of the scalp and dandruff, the hair will become easier to comb and stop breaking.
For men
A cup of bergamot tea can provide just as much energy as a cup of strong coffee. A hot drink will help the stronger sex to be in good shape even after hard work. Laboratory studies have proven that the aromatic substances of fragrant bergamot help to feel more confident and improve mood. Perfume makers often use bergamot as a way to attract the opposite sex. But it’s not always worth resorting to buying expensive fragrances, it’s easy enough to rub used bergamot peel behind the ears to repeat the effect.
For people who lead an active lifestyle, tea will help eliminate the harmful effects of stress and relieve anxiety. If a person is haunted by a feeling of unreasonable anxiety for a long time, it is recommended to drink a cup of a tonic drink daily. For men, bergamot is a strong aphrodisiac and also helps restore reproductive function.
During pregnancy
Pregnancy is a very important and responsible period in a woman's life. She should treat her health with particular care, because the expectant mother is also responsible for her child. For a pregnant woman, bergamot tea will be useful, but do not take too much. One cup a week will help strengthen the immune system, protect both mother and fetus from viruses. The main thing is that a woman should not have a tendency to allergies, because allergic reactions to citrus are especially strong.
Bergamot essential oils also have a strong effect on the nervous and reproductive systems. If the pregnancy proceeds with certain problems, then in order to avoid the threat of miscarriage, it is better to consult a specialist before use.
When breastfeeding
As with pregnancy, the beneficial properties of the drink should be used with caution. For the first 3-4 months after childbirth, doctors do not recommend drinking tea with bergamot (as well as with lemon), because it can cause a negative reaction in the newborn.
Women sometimes face the problem of lack of milk. A hot tea drink will help increase lactation and maintain it for a long time. If neither the mother nor the baby has a negative reaction to citrus fruits, then the correct dosage of tea will strengthen the children's, not fully formed immunity and help the female body recover after childbirth. But you should not drink more than 2-3 cups of tea per week.
For kids
The active substances in the composition of tea have a positive effect on mental health. In addition to the general calming effect on the nervous system, which prevents outbreaks of aggression and nervousness, bergamot improves concentration, promotes intensive brain work, and increases memory capacity - this is only part of the overall effect of tea on a child.
In addition, a hot drink prevents depression and reduces fatigue. It will also be useful for children who often have a cold, because the fruit has a strong antiviral property. So, tea can be used as a prevention of SARS. If the child suffers from a prolonged cough, the essential oils in the composition can soothe an irritated throat. There are cases of treatment even of diseases such as tonsillitis and pneumonia. Some mothers practice inhalation with bergamot infusions. The concentration of active substances in it will be greater than in tea, so drinking it is no longer recommended, but from a cold, such a treatment can quickly help not only children, but also adults. The main thing is not to carry out inhalation for too long, since excessive procedure time can harm the body. Effective destruction of pathogens quickly treats symptoms and brings down fever, and vitamins and ascorbic acid in the fruit strengthen weakened immunity.
When losing weight
Tea with bergamot will definitely help to get rid of excess weight! Contributing to dropping extra pounds, a fragrant drink performs several functions at once. Firstly, tea improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The healthier our digestive system works, the more effective the process of losing weight will be.
Bergamot has an astringent effect. Tea with bergamot is recommended for people who have diseases such as pancreatitis, chronic gastritis, cholecystitis, as well as low acidity of gastric juice. But proper weight loss without harm to health is possible only after recovery.
The substances contained in the bergamot extract disinfect and cleanse the intestinal walls of mucus, which accelerates the absorption of the necessary elements. Thus, tea contributes to the acceleration of metabolism and the regulation of water-lipid balance.
The second function is to improve blood flow. The drink cleanses blood vessels and normalizes lymph flow, and the latter plays one of the most important roles in burning subcutaneous fat. Those who want to control the desire to eat should take into account that tea improves appetite, and for those who need to normalize regular food intake, on the contrary, a strong brewed drink is well suited.
Bergamot tea raises or lowers blood pressure
Many people are concerned about the effect bergamot tea will have on blood pressure. It is safe to say about the normalizing effect of bergamot. The main enemies of our cardiovascular system are stress and increased nervous tension. Adrenaline, in combination with other hormones accompanying it, causes blood vessels to contract, which subsequently leads to hypertension. Bergamot has a beneficial effect on the cause of anxiety, calming the nervous system and improving mood.
Of course, tea with a fragrant additive cannot be called a full-fledged treatment, but a drink can provide significant assistance. If you drink tea hot with a small amount of sugar, then the pressure will increase, but it is undesirable to abuse the effect. In the case when it is necessary to lower blood pressure, you just need to drink it cold by throwing an ice cube into a mug. That is, the drink will be able to restore balance, while having an overall positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
How to brew tea with bergamot
Before brewing tea, it is necessary to heat the dishes in which it is planned to make a drink. It will be enough to rinse the kettle with boiling water from the inside or hold hot water in it for 30–60 seconds. The correct proportion for black tea with bergamot is 1 teaspoon per 200-250 ml of water. Next, you need to pour hot water into the kettle. Please note that the temperature should not exceed 85 degrees, otherwise the tea may lose its taste and medicinal qualities.
After the container is full, you must wait 4 minutes and remove the tea leaves. Honey can be added if desired. Fragrant tea with bergamot is ready!
Harm and contraindications
Despite its many positive properties, bergamot tea is powerful and can be harmful and even dangerous if used too much or inappropriately.
This drink is contraindicated for people with strong nervous excitability, the invigorating effect of bergamot can lead to insomnia.
Do not drink tea too often for children under 10 years old, nursing mothers. It is better for women in late pregnancy not to drink it at all.
Due to the pungent odor, people with hypersensitivity may experience dizziness, weakness, and even a feeling of lack of air or a headache.
In the presence of cardiovascular diseases, it is necessary to consult a doctor before drinking the drink - in rare cases, tea can have a negative effect. In order not to harm yourself, it is better to verify the relevance and safety of its ingestion.
Women who have problems in the field of gynecology should also not use this type of tea, as it can provoke uterine contractions and vaginal bleeding.
If a person has no contraindications, then you need to understand that everything is good in moderation, because a powerful effect can cause poor health.
Allergy to bergamot tea
As you know, citrus fruits are strong allergens. They contain complex protein compounds that cause severe symptoms. It is important to remember that if a person has itchy and reddened skin after drinking bergamot tea, urticaria has begun, tearing, bronchospasm or wheezing has begun, it is necessary to quickly give him an anti-allergic medicine.
If the symptoms do not go away, swelling continues to develop, you should immediately go to the hospital for emergency help, because the most severe forms of allergies, such as anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema can even lead to death. Essential oils in the composition of the drink are a concentrate of substances contained in the fruit, therefore they are a great danger for allergy sufferers. Accordingly, people suffering from individual intolerance are strictly contraindicated drinking this tea.
Which tea with bergamot is better: black or green
Black with bergamot, which is called Earl Grey all over the world, is considered traditional. It is made using Indian or Ceylon tea, sometimes Chinese varieties are also used. But today the tea industry is developing at a rapid pace, so a green variety with the addition of bergamot has appeared. Of course, adherents of green tea will rather prefer a non-classical version, and most importantly, the benefits of bergamot will not suffer from this in any way.
Black varieties contain more useful caffeine than green varieties, which reduces the tonic effect of the drink during the transition. The caffeine contained in tea has a rather positive effect on the cardiovascular system, because it dilates blood vessels not abruptly, but gradually. So a person works productively for a long time, with increased attentiveness and concentration.
Bergamot with green tea varieties has a greater effect on the nervous system - antioxidants relieve stress. So, it is preferable to drink green tea with bergamot at night, and black tea in the morning or in the middle of the working day.
"Excess" water is excreted from the body along with salts, eliminating puffiness. Thanks to the acceleration of metabolism, diuretic and cleansing actions, green tea with bergamot is considered an excellent assistant in losing weight.
When to Harvest and How to Dry Bergamot for Tea
During flowering, large and variegated flowers with a sweet smell appear on the tree. The fruits, while still green, have a dense, juicy rind, with a brighter bittersweet flavor that ripe bergamot does not have. It is this moment that will be the most suitable for harvesting.
The most valuable product for the food industry and tea production will be the essential oil, which is created by pressing the concentrate from the leaves, flowers of the tree and the peel of the bergamot itself. If a person is seriously interested in the prospect of making bergamot tea completely on his own, then he should know that hand-pressed oil is considered the most valuable and it is from the fruit. The work to be done is quite painstaking, since about 5 grams of oil can be obtained from 1 kg of harvested fruits. In fact, all the benefits of bergamot tea are in the oils. They process tea leaves, which need to be flavored, and along with the latter, they also acquire the benefits of essential oils.
How to dry
If a herb is used to brew tea that needs to be prepared for future use, drying will be required. Bergamot is crushed, removing coarse and thick particles at once. Drying is carried out in the shade in the fresh air (it is permissible to dry the raw materials on the balcony with the windows open). A sign that the raw material is dried is its brittleness.
Dried grass is stored in glass containers with tight-fitting lids so that the raw materials do not lose their beneficial properties.
Growing bergamot indoors
Many people have a desire to grow plants at home that they most like to eat. This applies to bergamot, because delicious tea can be made not only from green fruits, but also from leaves. It will be problematic to grow a tree on the street due to cold winters, but in an apartment it is quite possible. Bergamot blooms from March to April. Bergamot blossoms are also valuable for brewing tea, because they have large red or white flowers that exude a sweet smell with a spicy bitterness.
The plant is propagated by seeds or cuttings. It should be borne in mind that if you plant seeds, you will not be able to get fruits. From the tree, you need to cut cuttings of 10–15 centimeters, and then plant them in small pots. You need to use the land bought in the store for lemons, then the plant will feel comfortable. It is important to observe favorable conditions for the seedling: a temperature of 22–25 degrees Celsius and good lighting. After the cuttings take root, and this will happen after 3-4 weeks, you can transplant them into a larger pot. Two weeks after transplanting, it is advisable to fertilize the plant. This is best done with a special fertilizer for citrus fruits.
The bergamot tree is not very whimsical to care for, but grows slowly. For the same reason, he does not need frequent transplants, and they need to be carried out only if the roots have occupied the entire earth in a pot. Best of all, bergamot will cope with the change of soil during flowering, because in March-April the plant is full of energy. It is worth watering citrus as the soil dries out, and even less often in winter. Good light is necessary even in the cold season, if the plant is dark, the foliage will begin to wither and then fall off. It's best not to let this happen, but it's not worth worrying about. In spring, the leaves are fully restored. Despite the fact that the average daily temperature can be lowered to 12–15 degrees, the plant must be very carefully protected from drafts and rearranged to a warmer room if it is frozen.
To brew aromatic tea, young bergamot leaves are crushed and allowed to infuse with brewed tea. If your tree already has fruits, then it will be enough to leave a few pieces of citrus peel for 10 minutes in a drink, after which the tea will have the desired aroma.
Interesting Bergamot Facts
1. There are several reasons why bergamot tea spread so quickly. The main version - tea with bergamot was created by accident. At a time when tea was brought to Europe from India, a certain Englishman Grey, in addition to valuable leaves, transported ripe bergamot oil in barrels. But on the way, the ship got into a storm, and the oil spilled on the tea bags. For the count, the loss of such a valuable consignment of goods would be catastrophic, and he decided to sell the "spoiled" tea. To his surprise, the bergamot leaves paid off much faster, and the people of England wanted to keep buying the flavored drink.
2. In the UK, because of the tender love for the drink, there is a saying that a kiss should be strong and sweet, like tea, and some jokingly add: “And with bergamot!”
3. In Germany and Italy, bergamot tea has been the main antiseptic for three centuries. They disinfected cuts, cauterized large wounds. It was thanks to the folk medicine of Southern Europe that scientists drew attention to the plant a little less than a century ago.
4. The biggest counterfeiting of bergamot and its products was during World War II. This was due to the fact that the main consumers and the main producers of tea were "on opposite sides of the barricades." Many peoples around the world began to look for local substitutes for bergamot. After a long time, it turned out that each country with its own tea culture can offer its own "bergamot" Earl Grey. It seems that they want to deceive ordinary people by selling cheaper analogues instead of a real supplement, but not everything is so simple. Such a significant increase in the diversity of the tea assortment has led to significant progress in the market, competition and an increase in the quality of the product, even if not specifically bergamot.
5. Bergamot also grows in Mauritius, but in addition to tea, locals prefer to drink its juice in its pure form. The fact is that even mature bergamot is positioned as inedible due to its strong acidity and bitterness, despite its wonderful aroma. It is believed that only a “real man” can drink this juice, therefore, in many tribes, the use of citrus juice was part of the rituals.
No matter what time of day you want to enjoy a hot drink. They say that tea can heal wounded souls, and one cannot but agree with this! People lovingly brew a drink for their significant other, infuse herbs for sick relatives, and simply make it for themselves to enjoy a nice Saturday night with a book. Now, when progress in the study of biology and physiology makes it possible to study in more detail the processes occurring in the body, more and more new properties of long-known plants are being discovered.
Medicine, coming from the depths of centuries, knows how to use the gifts that are given to us in nature, and modern knowledge provides scientific confirmation of this. The same fate befell the tea with bergamot. Exceptional taste, combined with benefits for the whole body, make it a universal remedy for improving the condition, whether it's a runny nose, a scratch or an autumn blues. The incomparable velvety taste of classic Earl Grey tea still remains the most important and beloved among thousands of people all over the planet.
Important: All information on the website is provided for informational purposes only. Before applying any of the recommendations, consult with a specialist. Neither the editors nor the authors are responsible for any possible harm caused by your understanding of what you have read and your own actions in relation to yourself and loved ones. Love makes everything better.