Orange Blossom Water (Agua de Azahar)
Commonly used in Europe and the Middle East, orange blossom water adds a delicate floral flavor to pastries, dishes, and even cocktails. It's not difficult to make your own extract that will keep for years.
Servings: 48 teaspoon servings
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Equipment
- stainless steel funnel
- mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup orange blossoms
For infusion method in water
- 1 cup water
For alcohol extract method
- 1 cup high proof alcohol like vodka, gin, or rum
Instructions
- Rinse the orange blossoms in water and allow them to dry over a clean, dry cloth.
- Remove any stems and/or small fruit that have begun to form within the flowers.
Cool maceration method
- Mash the petals with a mortar and pestle.
- Cover the mashed flowers with cold water and cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. Leave undisturbed overnight.
- The next day, strain the petals from the water.
Hot infusion method
- Bring the cup of water to a boil.
- Cover the petals with the water while it's still hot.
- Cover them with a lid or plastic wrap and allow them to infuse for several hours or overnight.
- Strain the petals from the infused water.
Extraction into alcohol
- Place the clean petals into a clean bottle or jar and cover them with alcohol.
- As you obtain more petals, continue to add them to the bottle, covering them with more alcohol as needed.
- Allow the mixture to sit for at least 2-3 weeks before filtering out the petals. (You can keep the petals in the alcohol too, if you prefer.)
- When ready to use the extract, filter the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cloth.
Notes
While you can use dried petals, fresh give better flavor. If using dried petals, the hot water infusion method is best.
Storage
Orange blossom water should be stored in the fridge and used within 10 days. While some people claim it will keep for several months, because it is an organic product made without a preservative, it will likely grow bacteria and perhaps even mold. While mold is obvious to see, bacteria can be invisible. Toss the batch at the first signs of changes in color, scent, flavor, or texture. Orange blossom extract made with alcohol will keep much, much longer; probably indefinitely.Using Alcohol
Extracts are best made with a high-proof alcohol that is around 40% alcohol (or more). This helps ensure the best infusion of the flavor and also better preserves the final extract. *Nutritional information calculated for orange blossom water and not the extract.Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
Calories: 1kcal