What is it?

Orange flower water, which is made by distilling the orange blossoms rather than the fruit itself, has a seductively floral (rather than citrusy) aroma.

Straight from the bottle, orange flower water is extremely potent, but it mellows once it’s mixed with other ingredients. It is mainly used for baking, but is also popular in traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. Though not traditional, orange flower water also has inspiration within the French and Mexican cultures as well.

Orange flower water can sometimes be used to sweeten cocktails, the most famous being the Ramos Gin Fizz.

How to choose:

Look for orange flower water in specialty markets, gourmet shops, and Middle Eastern grocers.

Click here to purchase

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Sweet Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Caramelized Walnuts

  This tagine is a perfect example of the sweet chicken tagines of Fez, a glorious blend of sweet and savory, with the apricots’ chewy texture and sweet-tart flavor offsetting the…

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  Recipe

  Spanish Olive Oil Tortas with Orange-Blossom Water and Aniseed

  Those Spanish tortas de aceite—crisp, orange-anise-flavored  olive oil crackers handmade in Seville—have become a common sight in many upscale grocery stores. The tortas come individually wrapped in wax paper in…

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  Recipe

  Orange and Grated Radish Salad with Orange Flower Water

  Please don’t dress the grated radishes too far in advance, or they will lose their texture.

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  Recipe

  Orange and Hazelnut Cake with Orange Flower Syrup

  This is a wheat-free cake, very light and fluffy, soaked in a zesty syrup. Cakes are not as popular as filo pastries in the Eastern Mediterranean, but this is a…

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  Recipe

  Pan de Muerto

  In the Mexican tradition, this sweet, buttery bread is a fixture at Day of the Dead celebrations. Serve the sugar-topped loaves with Mexican Hot Chocolate or coffee for dipping. Watch an audio…

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  Recipe

  Classic Baklava

   

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  Recipe

  Fresh Fig Tart with Orange Flower Custard

  Arrange the figs in concentric circles or jumble them on helter-skelter. If you can't find orange flower water, substitute 1 teaspoon orange zest.