Bergamot

It’s annoyingly hard to come by fresh bergamot fruit in the UK - think of something that looks like a cross between an orange and a lime. You might know the flavour from Earl Grey tea. With the trees hailing from Calabria in southern Italy, the oil expressed from the rind is one of the ultimate Mediterranean materials, and a foundational ingredient in classic Eaux de Colognes. Think uplifting, fruity and rich with a beguiling dry finish. If you ever want to taste Bergamot it’s worth getting hold of a spirit called Italicus, which makes for a fantastic spritz cocktail. Smell it in….Two Halves.