The bergamot is a citrus fruit grown mostly in Mediterranean areas. Production is on large scale in the
Ionian Sea coastal areas of the province of
Reggio di Calabria in Italy, to such an extent that it is a symbol of the entire city. Most of the bergamot production of Italy is at this short stretch of coastal land, where the climate is favorable. There are three different cultivars of bergamot fruits that are traditionally grown, namely Feminello, Fantastico and Castagnaro. Bergamot is also grown in southern France and the
Ivory Coast for the
essential oil, and in
Antalya in southern
Turkey for its
marmalade. The fruit is not generally grown for juice consumption. The fruit is also cultivated in Argentina, Brazil,
North Africa, Iran
Adulteration with cheaper products such as oil of
rosewood and
bergamot mint has been a problem for consumers. To protect the reputation of their produce, the Italian government introduced tight controls, including testing and certificates of purity. The
Stazione Sperimentale per le Industrie delle Essenze e dei Derivati dagli Agrumi (Experimental Station for Essential Oil and Citrus By-Products) located in
Reggio di Calabria, is the quality control body for the essential oil
Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria DOP. During World War II, Italy was unable to export to countries such as the
Allied powers. Rival products from Brazil and Mexico came onto the market as a substitute, but these were produced from other citrus fruits such as
sweet lime. ==Uses==