Bergamot orange Bergamot orange Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange (pronounced ), is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime, depending on ripeness. Genetic research into the ancestral origins of extant citrus cultivars found bergamot orange to be a probable hybrid of lemon and bitter orange. Extracts have been used to scent food, perfumes, and cosmetics. Use on the skin can increase photosensitivity, resulting in greater damage from sun exposure. The word bergamot is etymologically derived from the Italian word ""bergamotto"", ultimately of Turkish origin: "bey armudu" or "bey armut" ("prince's
Citrus while still on the tree. Once they are separated from the tree, they will not increase in sweetness or continue to ripen. The only way change may happen after being picked is that they will eventually start to decay. With oranges, colour cannot be used as an indicator of ripeness because sometimes the rinds turn orange long before the oranges are ready to eat. Tasting them is the only way to know whether or not they are ready to eat. Citrus trees are not generally frost hardy. Mandarin oranges ("C. reticulata") tend to be the hardiest of the common "Citrus"