For their third summer stopover, our two Marmots chose Southern Italy, with the firm desire to sniff the famous bergamot . They therefore set down their suitcases in Calabria for a delicious stay in the land of citrus fruits.
Hats screwed on their heads, sunglasses, brand new notebook and pen: our two Marmots are ready to lead the investigation at the tip of the Italian boot.
After spending two hours surfing in the turquoise waters of Calabria, they headed inland, where the famous bergamot trees have been growing since the 17th century.
An Italian they met along the way told them that the Calabrians traditionally say they were abandoned by God long ago, leaving them mired in poverty, organized crime, and plagued by natural disasters. Before leaving, God apparently had qualms and offered them, as compensation, an exceptional, naturally generous land.
It is on this providential piece of land, nestled between the Ionian coast and the Tyrrhenian Sea that our 2 Marmots went, determined to uncover the secrets of bergamot .
The first thing that struck them about this little corner of Calabria was its microclimate: nothing like the coast!
Humidity, brightness, winds, valleys, fertile soils, fruit trees as far as the eye can see: there is something magical about the place.
As we approached even closer, our two Marmots became acquainted with the famous bergamot trees, a tree resulting from the hybridization of a bitter orange tree and a lemon tree, with evergreen foliage of a truly brilliant green.
In the heart of summer, their fruits are still very small but the vintage promises to be generous! So, we'll meet next winter to participate in the great winter bergamot harvest.
At the National Bergamot Museum in Reggio di Calabria, our two Marmots learned that 90% of the world's bergamot production comes from Calabria.
We understand better why the Italians nickname him the “Prince of Citrus Fruits”!
If the locals are so complimentary about Calabrian bergamot, it is also because its intense taste is truly unique!
This is what made all the difference when our master brewers sought to create their Earl Grey tea recipe .
Since they didn't want to hear about aromas or essential oils, they went directly to Calabria to find the best bergamot.
Bingo: thanks to zests of incomparable quality, they have created the first Earl Grey tea on the market without added flavors or essential oils.
Earl Grey tea with real bergamotThis little Italian trip under the sign of bergamot made our 2 Marmots want to extend their stay in the land of citrus fruits .
Mandarins, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, citron, chinotto: they have devoured the kilometers without counting, all the way to Sicily just for the pleasure of it.
The citrus orchards, the sun, the meetings with small producers , the fruit tastings: they talk to us about it again and again.
Next time, it's decided, they will go to the Amalfi Coast, in the Campania region to learn how to make Limoncello.
Or, to continue discovering the plants and fruits of the Mediterranean regions, they will go to Morocco to discover the rose of Kelâat M'Gouna .
Some great trips ahead!
