Beverage
Orange Blossom Water
Orange blossom water is the hydrosol of bitter-orange (Citrus aurantium) flowers, steam-distilled so the water itself carries a citrus-honey, slightly green floral. Maghrebi and Levantine kitchens put it in makroud, qatayef syrup, ghribia, and sometimes coffee; a drop in a fruit salad or a yogurt cake does the same job. Culinary neroli hydrosol is the same family of distillate, often sold under that name when the producer is thinking of the flower oil. Food-grade only—perfume hydrosols can be adulterated. A teaspoon in a whole cake is plenty; more tastes of cheap cologne. It is not orange extract, not orange zest, and not orange-flower honey. Store it like rose water: dark, cool, and recapped.
Also known as: Orange Flower Water
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Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
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Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat 0 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 4.66 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Total Carbohydrate 9.58 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 8.06 g
- Complex / starch 0 g
- Protein 0.53 g
- Water 88.9 g
- Energy 43 kcal
- Water 88.9 g
- Carbohydrates 9.58 g
- Sugars 8.06 g
- Monosaccharides 5.64 g
- Disaccharides 2.42 g
- Protein 0.53 g
- Fat 0.1 g
- Vitamins 26 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.06 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.58 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.12 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 0.6 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 2.3 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 0.06 mg
- Vitamin K 0.2 µg
- Minerals 231 mg
- Major Minerals 225 mg
- Trace Minerals 5.9 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.01 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.02 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.06 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.58 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.12 · vitamin-b6: 0.02 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 0.6 · vitamin-b9-folate: 2.3 · vitamin-e: 0.06 · vitamin-k: 0.2 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 4.66 · Potassium: 160 · Calcium: 60 · Iron: 0.5 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Beverage bases range from near-water teas to sugar-dense cordials; alcohol adds energy when present.
History
North African and Andalusi distillation flavoured foods with orange blossom water.
Levantine sweets standardised orange blossom water in syrups and pastries.
Bottled orange flower water entered European and global baking.