Although it is a member of the citrus family, the Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria possesses certain characteristics which make it unique. The tree is between 3 and 4 metres tall, with smooth, oval-shaped leaves which are dark green in colour; they remain attached to the tree even in the depths of winter. The blossom is white and very highly scented; the tree flowers at the beginning of March, after the worst of the wet weather is past. The fruit is slightly larger than an orange but a bit smaller than a grapefruit, with a colour that changes from green to lemon yellow during the ripening period; the peel is thin and smooth to the touch and the fruit is slightly flattened at both ends.

Cultivation

The climate

The area: 150 km of land, unique in the world

The cultivars, the use of the fruit, and its newly discovered health-giving properties

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