Bacanha Bergamot Syrup. Organic syrup with bergamot flavor and lemon juice – tart and fruity for lemonade, iced tea, and cocktails.
Bacanha Bergamot Syrup is an organic syrup made from cane sugar, water, natural bergamot flavor, and concentrated organic lemon juice by the Parisian syrup manufacturer Bacanha. Alcohol-free, 400 ml in a glass bottle, enough for about 20 glasses. Not Earl Grey tea, not a ready-to-drink beverage, no coloring – a citrus syrup you dilute yourself.
Bergamot Syrup by Bacanha, known by the manufacturer as Sirop Bergamote Brut, brings a citrus fruit to your glass that most people only know from their teacup. Bergamot is the fruit that gives Earl Grey its fragrance: lemony, tart, with a floral note that distinguishes it from orange and lemon. As a fruit, it is too bitter to eat, but as a flavor, it is all the more sought after. A bergamot syrup is therefore a flavored syrup: organic cane sugar and water form the base, a natural bergamot aroma provides the fragrance, and concentrated organic lemon juice adds the acidity. The manufacturer describes the result as tart, fruity, and with a citrus scent that cannot be confused with any other. For us, bergamot is one of the more popular Bacanha varieties, especially among tea drinkers.
Taste
The bergamot syrup tastes tart and fruity, with the herbal-floral fragrance of bergamot at the front and the sweetness of the cane sugar in the background.
Anyone who likes Earl Grey will recognize the fruit immediately: this bright, slightly bitter citrus scent that is more reminiscent of peel than juice. The lemon juice provides the acidity that the bergamot fruit lacks and keeps the syrup fresh. Cane sugar is the primary ingredient; according to the manufacturer, a "Sirop Brut" is nonetheless less sweet than traditional syrup, and the tartness of the bergamot remains noticeable in the glass. Those expecting a well-rounded, sweet orange lemonade will find this syrup too tart. For those who like their citrus with an edge, this is your variety.
Usage
For bergamot lemonade, add 2 cl of syrup to about 16 cl of cold sparkling water and ice – roughly 1 part syrup to 8 parts water.
The manufacturer suggests smoothies, cocktails, and lemonades, and provides two recipes. The non-alcoholic Mocktail Méditerranéen: 2 cl bergamot syrup, 1 cl grapefruit juice, 1 cl lemon juice, and 3 ice cubes in a glass, topped up with water. For the home bar, the Martini Bergamote: shake 4 cl of gin (previously infused with black tea), 2 cl of bergamot syrup, 2 cl of lemon juice, and 1 egg white with ice and strain. A splash in cold black tea turns simple iced tea into an Earl Grey iced tea, and you decide how much bergamot goes in.
One bottle contains 400 ml. Store in a cool, dry place; after opening, it belongs in the refrigerator and should be consumed promptly.
Our tip: Drizzle a teaspoon of bergamot syrup over a bowl of vanilla yogurt and add a few raspberries. The tart citrus scent elevates the sweetness, as if lemon zest had been grated over it.
Origin
Bacanha was founded in 2013 in Paris and today produces in an atelier in the Seine-et-Marne department, east of the city.
Restoring nobility to syrup is how the Parisian syrup manufacturer describes its mission. This fits particularly well with bergamot: its fragrance is a classic of perfumery, and the aromas for Bacanha are developed in the Grasse region, the center of the French fragrance industry. The base of the syrup is organic cane sugar from South America; it is gently heated at low temperatures and bottled in glass. All 15 Bacanha varieties we carry bear the EU organic logo. You can find more about the company on our Bacanha page.
For whom
Bergamot syrup is the bottle for tea drinkers who want to have that Earl Grey fragrance in a cold glass. At the home bar, it is the citrus syrup with a unique character. It fits perfectly on the table for afternoon tea, as an iced tea in the summer, and in non-alcoholic drinks for guests.
If you prefer your citrus fruity rather than tart, choose the Yuzu Syrup; if you are looking for something floral, the Elderflower Syrup from the same brand. Bergamot is not suitable for those expecting a mild, sweet lemonade – the tartness is an integral part of the fruit.
Bergamot aroma from Grasse, lemon juice, and cane sugar, blended near Paris – the organic syrup for making your own Earl Grey iced tea.
