time for Tea in the Garden...

In the Garden | Culinary | Fragrance | Medicinal use

Popular Garden Varieties

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In the Garden

Growth Characteristics:

• Perennial, Deciduous, Frost hardy,
• Bright red, claw-shaped flowers, with red-green bracts, are produced in terminal whorls in summer,
• Bergamot is semi-dormant during winter and new growth shoot up during Spring,
• Height: ± 1 m; Spread: ± 1 m,

Cultivation:

• Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,

Harvesting:

• Pick fresh leaves throughout the year.
• For the best taste, harvest the leaves just before flowering.
• Leaves can be dried, but flowers are best when used fresh.

Companion Planting:

• The colourful flowers attract bees and butterflies, and is therefore a good companion for plants that need insect pollination. Bergamot is also known as Bee Balm,

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Culinary use

• Use Bergamot leaves and flowers with:
• Summer fruit drinks or punches,
• Gives the "Earl Grey" taste to tea,
• Flower Petals in Salads, Fruit Salads, Jams, Jellies, Milk,
• Stuffings, Pork,
• Use fresh or dried flowers in flower arrangements,

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Fragrance

• Bergamot is part of the Mint family with a pungent citrus-like flavour,
• Use leaves and flowers in Potpourri,

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Medicinal use

Bergamot may be beneficial in the following cases:

• Drink a cup of tea as necessary,

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