Second national lockdown declared in France

Alegrias2

I can't imagine the French people I know agreeing to wear a mask in their own homes. I'm not sure I would either - a step too far.

I hope everything goes OK for you in France TwinLolly, stay safe!

Well a few days ago, before this second lockdown, I needed help on my computer and not only did my DSIN come but also my DD plus my two teenage DGDs. Without asking anything they all walked in, washed hands straight away and sat down with their masks on. I did offer tea but they said that they had just had some. They stayed the time necessary for the computer to work and then left, trying not touching anything. It certainly wasn’t how we usually interact but under the circumstances at the moment something is better than nothing. Respect for my health.

Should have mentioned.
Wild bergamot is a flowering shrub, no fruit.

The wild bergamot mentioned bybiba grew profusely in our area of southern Provence. The dried leaves made a pleasant tisane.

My stash of bergamot oranges was kindly given by our neighbour from one of his many bergamot trees and précise instructions for his personal recipe to make bergamot gin and yet more instructions should I want to extract the oils.

MawB2

Easy enough to make yourself.

1 bergamot , and an orange, ideally Seville
1 x 75ml bottle of gin
2 fresh bay leaves
Sugar syrup, to taste
METHOD

 Scrub the fruit and peel off the zest in strips using a potato peeler (you’ll only need one strip from the orange). Slice off any white pith that is still attached to the zest, before putting it in a bottle with the gin and the bay leaves. Replace the cap and leave for a week or so before tasting to see if it’s ready – it might need longer maceration. (I left for a month)
When the flavour suits you, decant the gin out of the bottle and into a fresh bottle, leaving behind the zest and bay leaves. Taste it and add sugar syrup if you like.
I put one bay leaf and a twist of peel in the bottle as “decoration”
Cheers!

Pour one for me please Maw I’m on my way!
??

I got mine last year from Ocado but if they are seasonal like Seville oranges, maybe try again in a couple of weeks?

Waitrose
2 x Unwaxed bergamots £1.99
sorry this item is not available

It sounds good!
Now, to find some bergamots!

Tesco:
Nordic Spirit bergamot nicotine pouches provide a full-strength nicotine experience that's 100% tobacco-free.

Not quite what I was looking for

Easy enough to make yourself.

1 bergamot , and an orange, ideally Seville
1 x 75ml bottle of gin
2 fresh bay leaves
Sugar syrup, to taste
METHOD

 Scrub the fruit and peel off the zest in strips using a potato peeler (you’ll only need one strip from the orange). Slice off any white pith that is still attached to the zest, before putting it in a bottle with the gin and the bay leaves. Replace the cap and leave for a week or so before tasting to see if it’s ready – it might need longer maceration. (I left for a month)
When the flavour suits you, decant the gin out of the bottle and into a fresh bottle, leaving behind the zest and bay leaves. Taste it and add sugar syrup if you like.
I put one bay leaf and a twist of peel in the bottle as “decoration”
Cheers!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202010/medium-283151-adwm70cl-hreg17.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202010/medium-412974-adwm70cl-hreg22.jpg

Our signature Jynevra Gin is a punchy, juniper forward dry classic. Orange is the dominant citrus flavour, supported by bergamot. Best served with a quality tonic and a handful of freshly picked blueberries. ABV 40%.
I can't decide, might have to pop over there to taste!

We also tried the Lapsang but weren't keen, it was like drinking kipper water smokey.

Gin with bergamot, I must try that!

Yes Callistemon, I wondered that because I found several Early Grey gins with bergamot. Mainly made in Spain.

Yes, the Earl Grey tea. H and I used to drink a lot of it.

no bergamots around here (well, the flowers, yes)
Nor here; they probably need a Mediterranean climate for fruit to be produced.

Isn't it the flavouring in Earl Grey tea?

biba70

Callistemon

Bergamot essential oil is very useful and the essence is also used in perfumes.
I expect the marmalade is delicious.

Bergamot, to me, is a lovely perenial flower- and that is where the essential oil comes from. But never heard a the fruit.

I’m afraid not Biba . Oil of bergamot has nothing to do with the flower.
It is a citrus fruit, not unlike an orange in appearance.
Bergamot is a plant that produces a type of citrus fruit. Oil from the peel of the fruit, and extract from the fruit juice, are used to make medicine. Bergamot is used for high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia).
I made a mean Bergamot and Bay gin as presents for the family last Christmas.

you surprise me if you have never heard of the fruit.

thanks for the reminder- had a couple of frosts last week- time to go sloe picking for the sloe gin - no bergamots around here (well, the flowers, yes). Bought some Bergamot eau de toilet the other day, gorgeous.

Sounds like it should go nicely with a gin and tonic!

Callistemon

Bergamot essential oil is very useful and the essence is also used in perfumes.
I expect the marmalade is delicious.

Bergamot, to me, is a lovely perenial flower- and that is where the essential oil comes from. But never heard a the fruit.

I do have some sympathy, particularly with young French people, who previously left their rural homes in search of work and now have to return to the "foyer". A lot of them cannot afford their rents in the cities if they are au chômage partiel and their only choice is to head home. More jobs need to be found locally to keep them in the area.

The French don't want people escaping to their second homes from the cities. Apart from anything else, the shops don't prepare for large influxes of people outside the holiday seasons, which is understandable.

We are expecting the same announcement here tonight (Belgium), already 10.00pm curfew, some areas are really bad. The police are closing down parties and weddings, why do people keep doing it, the area I live in has been so careful.
Except for a Shisha bar which had 80 people in it when raided. It is tiny, some people seem to think they are immune and also above the law.
I coped in the summer but suffer from SADS and live in a semi-basement, lots of windows but at the moment it is just grey outside.

Yes Ellianne there are dispensations for people travelling home after the Toussaint holidays, the flower shops can stay open until the end of Sunday (cue endless pictures of chrysanthemums on the lunchtime news) after which they will be closed for lockdown and the cemeteries are open.

Thinking about it, there's no way Macron could cancel the honouring of the dead by the Catholic Church at Toussaint with what is going on in France at the moment.

I guess visiting cemeteries will be allowed Mamie as it is outside?

I suppose to be fair a lot of people do go back to family homes for Toussaint, it remains to be seen whether they stay there.