The bergamot

Collection title

Cose dell' altro Geo

ID

RAI00091

Source

RAI (IT)

First broadcast date

10/10/2002

Production year

2002

Abstract

The history of the bergamot in uncertain. From the turkish name, begarmade " peer of the Lord", it is a citrus with a sour taste. From its thin yellow bark, is extracted an esence used as a fixer in the most precious perfumes, and also used as an antiseptic and antibacterial in the pharmaceutical sector. Its flower comprises five white and smelling petals. It is a special citrus, all attempts to plant it elsewhere have failed, it takes roots only in the territory of Reggio de Calabria because of its favorable microclimate. The discovery of its vertues is attributed to the Italian Gian Paolo Feminis, who invented, in the early twentieth century, in Germany, a scented water:water of Cologne, the oldest perfume still sold. In the past, the essence was extracted by hand pressure of the fruit bark. It was then absorbed by natural sponges placed in special copper containers. Today, the esence is extracted with special tools. The international competition of synthetic mixtures and the real-estate speculation lead to the clearing of entire plantations of bergamot trees. Since 1946, the Reggio Calabria Consorsium has defended the producers and consumers of the bergamot thriugh a label of quality.

Type

video

Production companies

• RAI - Own production

Broadcaster

RAI - RAI Tre

Audiovisual form

Documentary

Primary theme

Agriculture, breeding

Credits / Cast

• Romano Gianni - Author of original work

Period of events

• 2000

Map locations

• Italy - South Italy - Calabria

Original language

Italian

Media running time

22m19

Additional information

Black and white photographs illustrating the bergamot harvest in the early twentieth century.