Bergamot tea is made by combining black tea and bergamot extract. This tea is widely known as Earl Grey tea and has been consumed worldwide for hundreds of years. This article describes the main facts about bergamot tea, including its potential benefits and side effects, as well as how to prepare it.
What is Bergamot Tea?
Bergamot tea is typically made from black tea leaves and the fruit of the Bergamot tree (Citrus bergamia). Bergamot is an exotic fruit that visually resembles a lime and belongs to the citrus family. The plant was obtained by crossing orange and citron. The name usually comes from the Italian bergamotto, formed from the name of the Lombard city of Bergamo (despite the fact that in Italy bergamot is grown mainly in Calabria). There is also a “folk etymology” – from the Ottoman beg-armudi – “bey’s pear.”
Bergamot is used to flavor desserts, various candies, tea (Earl Grey), juices, and alcoholic beverages. Tea leaves are sprayed with bergamot extract or bergamot essential oil or mixed with dried bergamot peels, which gives the tea a mild citrus flavor.
The Earl Grey blend is named after Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey, the British Prime Minister of the 1830s, who, according to one legend, received tea with bergamot oil as a diplomatic gift. According to another version, Earl Grey owes its origin to an incident that occurred with one of the ships carrying tea. Bergamot oil spilled in the ship’s hold and soaked the tea bales. As a result, the tea was deemed unusable. However, some enthusiast decided to try the “spoiled” product, and the tea with the new flavor was a huge success. The English Lord of the Admiralty, Earl Grey, personally tried and liked the “new variety,” which gave the new product good publicity.
It is often considered English, but it originates from Southeast Asia, but today it is most widely cultivated in Southern Italy. You can find bergamot tea in most grocery stores – with or without additional ingredients and flavorings. Some variations of tea are made from the wild herb Monarda didyma. This herb smells similar to bergamot and has been used in medicine by Native Americans for centuries.
Potential Health Benefits
Bergamot is rich in beneficial plant compounds known as polyphenols, including flavonoids – neoeriocitrin, neohesperidin, and naringin. These polyphenols act as antioxidants that fight reactive molecules called free radicals, which cause cell damage and various diseases. Black tea is also rich in various other compounds with antioxidant properties, such as catechins. The high concentration of many different types of antioxidants in bergamot tea can make it especially beneficial for your health.
Bergamot tea may reduce some risk factors for heart disease.
- Bergamot products have been shown to lower cholesterol levels, and black tea lowers blood pressure.
- Bergamot contains flavanones that slow down the formation of enzymes that produce cholesterol in your body.
- A study involving 80 people with high cholesterol showed that daily intake of bergamot extract significantly reduced blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels after 6 months compared to baseline values.
- Some studies suggest that bergamot may enhance the effect of traditional cholesterol-lowering medications.
- A controlled study involving 95 adults at risk for high blood pressure showed that those who drank 3 cups (750 ml) of black tea per day for 6 months had significantly lower blood pressure compared to those who drank a placebo.
Based on these results, drinking bergamot tea may benefit your heart.
Bergamot tea may promote digestion.
- Flavonoids in bergamot tea can fight inflammation of the digestive organs.
- A study on mice with colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease) showed that bergamot juice inhibits the release of proteins that cause inflammation and reduces episodes of diarrhea.
- Other studies show that bergamot juice can reduce intestinal inflammation and fight Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which are associated with stomach ulcers and pain.
- Animal studies on the effects of black tea show that compounds called theaflavins can help treat and prevent stomach ulcers and other digestive problems.
Although these results indicate that the combined effect of black tea and bergamot may promote digestion, no studies have examined the effect of bergamot tea on humans.
Side Effects of Drinking Large Amounts of Bergamot Tea
Although bergamot tea is generally considered safe for healthy people, there may be some risks associated with its excessive consumption. Study participants who drank more than 16 cups (4 liters) of tea per day had muscle cramps and blurred vision.
In addition, tea contains compounds called tannins, which can interfere with iron absorption in the body. If you drink tea regularly and are concerned about your iron levels, consider drinking it between meals to promote better iron absorption from food.
Finally, since most bergamot teas contain caffeine, be careful with consumption if you experience nervousness, anxiety, or other side effects. To avoid this, you can buy decaffeinated tea.
How to Make Bergamot Tea
Bergamot tea is widely available and usually sold under the name Earl Grey. To enjoy it, simply steep a bergamot tea bag in boiling water for 3-5 minutes or longer for a stronger flavor. You can also make bergamot tea from Earl Grey tea leaves. Use one tablespoon (14 grams) of tea for each cup (250 ml) of hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes and strain before drinking.