Bergamot plant for tea. When american colonists boycotted british tea they turned to oswego tea the beverage brewed by the oswego nation from bee balm monarda didyma. Bergamot tea is typically made from black tea leaves and the fruit of the citrus bergamia tree. Oswego tea made from wild bergamot flowers and leaves was the favorite choice of americans who turned to native plants to make their tea after losing access to british teas as a result of the boston tea party. During the american revolution bergamot tea was the most popular substitute for the unpatriotic english brew.
Inspect the flowers for and remove any insects or debris. Gather the flower heads into small bundles then put each. Bergamot is a plant that produces a type of citrus fruit. The plant sets seed which are light brown ovals.
Cut off bergamot flower heads when they bloom in early to late summer using garden shears or a sharp knife. Bergamot tea is obtained by brewing leaves of the bergamot herb. It has a dense rather shallow root system with any runners. This tea has several medicinal benefits and is consumed by people with health issues like cough cold sinusitis etc.
Planting bergamot seeds you can plant bergamot seeds outdoors in early spring while the soil is cool and there is still a chance of a light frost. The plant can be used as a cooking herb. Bergamot is also responsible for the lemon like citrus scent and taste thats a classic component of the beloved tea blend known as earl grey making it a no brainer element to include in a tea garden. Bee balm often called bergamot these bee pleasing additions to your garden emit a lovely scent similar to the unrelated bergamot fruit used to flavor earl grey tea.
Earl grey tea intoxication. Oil from the peel of the fruit and extract from the fruit juice are used to make medicine. Bergamot is an american perennial. Cover the seeds with a light dusting of soil.
It is 2 5 feet tall very erect leafy tubular stalk topped by a fuzzy flower cluster brilliant scarlet. Also known as oswego tea or bee balm bergamot tea is quite popular with native american indians. Bergamot can be used in several ways outside of tea. The paired leaves are dark green growing 4 6 inches long.
It is best to use the flowers for tea the leaves have a hotter oregano like flavor. Make the cut just below the base of.