Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria DOP in Reggio Calabria

Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria DOP is an intensely fragrant citrus fruit grown almost exclusively along the narrow coastal strip of the province of Reggio Calabria, between the Ionian Sea and the Aspromonte mountains. The fruit has a thick, aromatic peel from which a highly prized essential oil is extracted, while the pulp is more rarely used for direct consumption. Its scent is intense, fresh, and slightly bitter, recognizable even to those unfamiliar with the fruit. In addition to the fresh fruit, you can easily find bergamot marmalades, liqueurs, candies, and sweets that highlight its unique aroma.

Bergamot is considered one of the most distinctive agricultural symbols of the province of Reggio Calabria. Its cultivation is closely tied to the unique microclimate of the Ionian coast of Reggio Calabria, where the citrus fruit finds conditions that are difficult to reproduce elsewhere. Bergamot essential oil has historically been fundamental to the international perfume industry, especially in the composition of eau de cologne. For the region, it represents not only an agricultural product but also an economic and cultural resource that reflects the relationship between landscape, farming, and local tradition.