Recently it was national Orange Blossom Day. You might be wondering what does orange blossom has to do with the Indigenous bartender, well let’s take look...
The Orange Blossom is the fragrant flower that comes from an orange tree, which is commonly used in the perfume industry. Some people say that it is an aphrodisiac. Their scent is sweet and heady similar to jasmine, tuberose, nutmeg, and fresh grass.
Orange blossoms are harvested from sweet and bitter orange, which are native to southern China and northeastern India. The orange tree was introduced to Europe by the Portuguese and Italian traders and in the 1500’s to America, which now leads the global production of oranges. The orange blossom became the flower of the Florida state and is a symbol of fortune in several cultures and is also used in bridal bouquets for weddings.
So how is the orange-scented water made?
Orange blossoms are edible but very rarely eaten. Rather, it is distilled into essential oils and aromatized water. Flowers from bitter orange are more fragrant than blossoms from sweet orange and thus are used to make an expensive oil known as neroli. It has been said that 2,200 lbs of flowers are required to yield 36 oz of the oil. Neroli is extracted by steam distillation and orange blossom is extracted via the process of enfleurage.
So what about orange blossoms and their use in the food and beverage world?
Well, in the culinary world, orange blossom water is an alternative to rose water. It is used in salad dressings, works well with yogurts and cream, and is well used in pastry. If you love your honey you should try out orange blossom honey, which is created during the blooming period of orange blossoms. Lastly, fallen blossoms are dried and used to make tea.
Check out this variation of milkshake for adults called:
Ramos Gin Fizz
60 ml London dry gin
3 dashes of orange blossom water
1 large egg white
15 ml cream mixed in equal parts with milk
15 ml fresh lemon juice
15 ml fresh lime juice
15 ml sugar syrup
1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender with 3 ice cubes
2. Blend until the ice is dissolved.
3. Pour into a tall glass and splash with soda.
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