Organic Bergamot Syrup

Bergamot syrup tastes like Earl Grey in a glass

Bacanha's organic bergamot syrup is a French citrus syrup with natural bergamot flavoring, crafted in a workshop near Paris. Tart, floral, with a clear bitter note. 400 ml makes about 20 glasses, and it turns a cup of black tea into an Earl Grey.

Bergamot syrup carries the very aroma that makes Earl Grey what it is, and belongs to the Sirop Brut series from the Parisian manufacturer Bacanha. The bergamot is not a fruit to be eaten, as its juice is too sour and too bitter. Its fragrance, however, is among the most precious in the citrus world.

Tart, floral, with a fine bitterness

Anyone who has ever smelled a fresh bergamot will never forget it. Lemon meets floral, with a resinous touch that no other citrus fruit possesses.

This exact triad is preserved in the syrup. On the palate, it reveals itself as lemony, floral, and resinous, with a fine bitterness in the finish that balances the sweetness. The label lists organic cane sugar, water, natural bergamot flavoring, organic lemon juice, and citric acid.

Few fruits are as site-specific as this one. About 90 percent of the world's bergamots grow on a coastal strip about 100 kilometers long in Calabria, around Reggio Calabria. Attempts have been made elsewhere, but the tree remains stubborn and does not yield the same oil elsewhere.

This is why the bergamot has always been a fruit for perfumers, and why it ended up in Eau de Cologne in the 18th century, long before anyone had the idea of putting it into tea. The fact that we know it today primarily from the teacup is, historically speaking, an afterthought.

In tea, in tonic, on chicken

A spoonful into a cup of cooled black tea and you have an iced tea that tastes like Earl Grey, without needing a special blend in the cupboard.

In tonic with a lemon zest it becomes an apéritif; with gin, something you no longer need to explain. In the kitchen, it pairs well with buttery tea biscuits, lemon cake, and—the more interesting approach—with roasted chicken with thyme. The bitterness does the same thing there as a slice of lemon, only rounder.

Bergamot likes herbs by its side. Anyone wishing to pursue this direction will find our Organic Verbena Syrup made from lemon verbena, and for the zesty variety, the Organic Yuzu Syrup stands right next to it.

One bottle instead of 20 disposable ones

It is blended in a workshop in Saint-Soupplets near Paris, and the arithmetic behind Sirop Brut is quickly told.

A 400 ml bottle contains about 20 refreshing drinks when topped up with tap water. The organic cane sugar comes from Brazil, produced by regenerative agriculture, and the aromas are created in Grasse, behind the Côte d'Azur.

All varieties maintain a pH value below 4.5 and around 60 degrees Brix, which is why they are less sweet than usual. From Bacanha's range, we carry 25 varieties, from citrus and floral to spice. A good calculation.

A splash in cold chamomile tea

For lemonade, mix one part syrup to 8 to 10 parts ice-cold water, plus a slice of lemon. On hot days, a splash of it in cold chamomile tea is worth trying—it sounds strange until you've tasted it. The chamomile takes the edge off the bergamot and allows the floral notes to shine.

In tea, add it only to the cooled infusion, otherwise the bergamot oil will evaporate. Once opened, the bottle belongs in the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2 months. You can find more citrus notes in our syrup selection.

Organic control number FR-BIO-01 – French Agriculture