| What could be more delightful than the bright, | | | | 6. Peeled fruits are then ejected by another |
| sparkling citrus aroma of freshly distilled Bergamot? | | | | conveyor belt and used as food for animals. |
| About two years ago, I traveled to Calabria in the | | | | 7. The peels are taken from the peeling machine with |
| south of Italy to visit an organic Bergamot distiller. | | | | a flow of water and filtered to remove the |
| Distiller Giuseppe Cuzzupi and his sister Elena warmly | | | | substance of the peel from the water. |
| welcomed us at our hotel with regional bottles of | | | | 8. The filtered water is now full of essential oil. It is |
| Bergamot aperitifs and Bergamot jam. | | | | conveyed to a machine that we call "separator" that |
| We drove along the coast and the rural countryside | | | | retains the oil of the Bergamots while pushing the |
| of the toe of Italy to Giuseppe's Bergamot | | | | water back into the peeling machine. |
| production plant. Here we learned how the rinds of | | | | 9. The Bergamot peels remaining in the "separator" |
| the fruit are transformed through an abrasion and | | | | are collected into small cotton bags. These bags are |
| pressing process into the bright olive green essential | | | | then put into a power press. The oil extracted from |
| oil we all know and love. | | | | the power press is much thicker than the oil |
| Giuseppe's grandfather began to grow a few | | | | extracted from the separator. |
| hundred Bergamot Orange trees in 1970. His father | | | | The therapeutic properties of Bergamot essential oil |
| continued the tradition, and with Giuseppe's help the | | | | (Citrus bergamia) are a true natural gift! Bergamot |
| number has grown to 6000 beautiful, | | | | works wonders in massage oils to reduce tension and |
| organically-grown Bergamot trees. In the past, the | | | | soothe painfully tight muscles. The essential oil is |
| family sold their fruit to big corporate producers of | | | | known to be a powerful antispasmodic and can be |
| essential oil. After realizing that their hard work | | | | effective in reducing and eliminating muscle cramps, |
| growing biological (organic) Bergamot fruit was lost | | | | abdominal cramps and spastic coughing. Bergamot is |
| on products with no quality control, they decided to | | | | emotionally uplifting, combats stress and depression, |
| produce their own oil. They now operate a small, high | | | | and is calming for the nervous system. It is one of |
| quality plant near their grove and use only the fruit | | | | the most valuable oils I use support emotional health |
| they cultivate to produce their essential oil. | | | | and well being. It is also the oil that gives Earl Grey |
| Giuseppe Cuzzupi's Bergamot essential oil is extracted | | | | Tea its enticing citrus aroma! |
| from the peel of the fruit and stored at constant | | | | Try using it in a diffuser - especially for depression - |
| temperature without any further processing. It is | | | | as it offers a light, uplifting and lovely aroma to the |
| 100% pure. The plant's production capacity is 3000 | | | | room. Take aromatherapy classes to learn more. |
| kilograms of Bergamot essential oil per year, | | | | Recipe For Muscle Cramps |
| depending on weather conditions. | | | | 9 drops Bergamot, Citrus bergamia |
| I asked Giuseppe to write out the steps he takes to | | | | 3 drops Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia |
| produce Bergamot essential oil. | | | | 4 drops Roman Chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile |
| Bergamot Essential Oil Processing | | | | 2 drops Sweet Marjoram, Origanum marjorana |
| 1. Fruits are collected from late November to January. | | | | Blend essential oil into 1 oz. of unscented cream or |
| 2. The process begins few days after the fruits are | | | | jojoba oil. Massage a capful gently into the cramped |
| collected. | | | | muscle area. |
| 3. The first step of the process is a cleaning bath for | | | | Bergamot oranges are gems from nature, providing |
| the Bergamot fruits in a large basin | | | | us with an essential oil filled with sunlight and an |
| 4. From the basin, the fruits are sent to the peeling | | | | extraordinary aroma with the ability to calm our |
| machine by a conveyor belt. | | | | nerves. I give my deepest appreciation to distillers like |
| 5. The peeling machine is a centrifuge with a coarse | | | | Giuseppe Cuzzupi who dedicate their lives to |
| basket. The rotation of the basket grates and | | | | producing such a precious oil. |
| separates the Bergamot peel from the fruit. | | | | |