What Part of Bergamot Is Used in Tea? Peel Oil, How It’s Added, and Smart Safety

Short version: it’s the zest’s perfume, not the juice, not the leaves, and definitely not the unrelated mint-family “bergamot” herb (Monarda) some gardeners grow Monarda fact sheet – plants.ces.ncsu.edu.

Background: why peel oil?

Bergamot essential oil is prized for a bright, floral-citrus aroma that pairs cleanly with black tea. In sensory work, Earl Grey blends are defined by black tea plus bergamot peel or oil additions molecules journal – mdpi.com. Composition studies consistently highlight linalyl acetate and linalool as hallmark volatiles of authentic bergamot oil GC–MS analysis – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

“Bergamot fruit is primarily used for the extraction of its essential oil, employed in perfume, cosmetics, food, and confections.” — Marco Navarra, PhD, pharmacologist Frontiers in Pharmacology – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Statistic to know: Reference profiles list roughly 36–45% linalyl acetate and about 6% linalool in typical bergamot oil, explaining the soft floral top note in tea PubChem – pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

How the aroma gets into tea

Two main methods

• Spray-on flavoring: Finished tea is lightly coated with bergamot peel oil (or a natural-identical aroma). This gives a clear citrus lift and is the dominant modern method tea aroma profiling – mdpi.com.
• Peel pieces in the blend: Dried bergamot peel is mixed with tea so the aroma infuses during brewing; less common and more subtle.

Expressed vs. distilled oils (and why it matters)

• Expressed (cold-pressed) oil: Rich, authentic aroma but can contain furocoumarins such as bergapten and bergamottin, which are phototoxic on skin under UV citrus oil safety review – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, authentication & furocoumarins – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
• Distilled or furocoumarin-reduced oil: Similar aroma profile with very low to no phototoxic risk; commonly chosen for foods and cosmetics safety review – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, processing note – frontiersin.org.

Practical guide: choose, brew, store

Choosing an Earl Grey

• Label clues: Look for “bergamot oil” or “natural bergamot flavor.” Brands sometimes specify “bergapten-free” or “furocoumarin-reduced” for topical products; for tea, either expressed or distilled grades may be used.
• Authenticity checks: Analytical papers profile linalyl acetate/linalool balances in genuine bergamot; reputable blenders source standardized oils chemical analysis – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Brewing basics

• Water just off boil, short steep: A few minutes typically preserves citrus top notes and avoids bitterness.
• Milk or no milk? Purely preference; citrus aroma reads brighter without milk.

Storage

• Opaque, airtight tin: Terpenes like linalool/linalyl acetate volatilize over time; protect from air, heat, and light volatility & stability – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Safety

• Phototoxicity is a skin issue, not a tea-cup issue: The risk concerns topical use of expressed oils before UV exposure. Tea contains tiny flavor amounts and is not associated with phototoxic burns. If you handle perfume oils, avoid sun on treated skin citrus oil safety – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, case report – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
• Medication note: Photosensitizing drugs raise UV sensitivity; this mainly matters for topical oils, not brewed tea. When in doubt, keep essential oils off skin before sun.
• Don’t confuse the plants: “Bergamot” the garden herb (Monarda) is a mint relative used as a separate culinary tea; it isn’t the citrus that flavors Earl Grey NC State Extension – plants.ces.ncsu.edu.

Key terms

• Expressed oil: Cold-pressed oil from citrus peel; may retain furocoumarins.
• Distilled oil: Steam-distilled; typically free of phototoxic furocoumarins.
• Furocoumarins (e.g., bergapten): Natural peel compounds that can make skin sun-sensitive when applied topically.
• Linalyl acetate & linalool: Signature aroma molecules that give bergamot its floral-citrus profile analysis – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

FAQ

Is it the juice or peel that flavors Earl Grey?

The peel. Producers use essential oil from the rind, or sometimes dried peel, to scent the tea tea aroma profiling – mdpi.com.

Does bergamot oil in tea cause sunburn risk?

Not in normal drinking amounts. Phototoxicity is a concern for skin exposure to expressed oils before UV, not for brewed tea citrus oil safety – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Why do some Earl Greys smell more floral?

Different oil grades and linalyl acetate/linalool ratios change the aroma balance; storage also matters chemical markers – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, stability note – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Sources

• High-quality bergamot oil: chemical analysis – PubMed Central
• Biological activities & safety of citrus essential oils – PubMed Central
• Discrimination of citrus-flavored teas; Earl Grey defined by peel/oil – MDPI
• Citrus bergamia essential oil: overview – PubMed Central
• Bergamot oil composition snapshot – PubChem (NIH)
• “Bergamot” herb is Monarda, not citrus – NC State Extension

Conclusion

The part used in tea is the rind. Peel oil, blended with finished tea, delivers that unmistakable Earl Grey aroma. Choose fresh, well-stored tea and enjoy the citrus lift; leave phototoxic worries to topical products, not your teacup.