The Seven Orange Blossom Water Sins

Orange blossoms are one of nature's most beautiful creation.

When I was a kid, dad would take us for a drive through orange groves. We'd roll down the windows and indulge in the most sensational smell.

Orange blossom water is made, if it is authentic, from the blossoms themselves. The best ones are bought home-made and a bottle can run up to $50. 

The commercial stuff, specially the ones we find in Canada, are either water-downed or made out of the tree's leaves, not the blossoms. That is why you can buy those bottles for under $10 for some brands.

Orange blossom water is very versatile and commonly used in Lebanon. It is sinfully interesting and perfumed that the best way to describe its uses is by listing, what I'm calling, the seven orange blossom water sins.

1. Lust your desserts

An authentic Lebanese dessert rarely skips inclusion of orange blossom water. For example, the Atayef will have orange blossom water in the stuffing, in the dough, and in the syrup. But beware, if you overdo it, it can turn into a harsh taste.

 

 2. Glutton you up

Quater is a thick syrup that is made from pure sugar and goes in and on most Lebanese sweets. A 1/2 cup water will take 2 cups sugar to turn into Quater, so imagine the calorie count.The final touch in making Quater is a sprinkle of orange blossom water.

3. Greed up your rice

Lebanese rice pudding (click for recipe) has a special unique taste versus any other culture's rice pudding. That is coming directly from the generous amount of orange blossom water that goes into it.

 

4. Sloth you to sleep

Café blanc, a Lebanese authentic, is simply hot water with a bit of sugar and orange blossom water. A naturally safe solution to insomnia than Ambien can ever be.

 

5. Wrath you up from a nice faint

What you see in the picture is a typical orange blossom or rose water silver sprinkler. One of the most fascinating uses of orange blossom water is to wake up someone who faints. Yes, if someone around you faints, sprinkle their face with orange blossom water and see them rise.

 

6. Envy your milk

Your boring glass of milk for breakfast will turn green with envy once it sees this typical Lebanese breakfast drink - Sahlab. This is hot milk thickened with salep flour and, what else, orange blossom water.

7. Pride your lassi

Many regular readers know how much I love my mango lassi. And nothing enhances a mango lassi better than a drop of orange blossom water.

 
I wonder if it was an orange blossom, not an apple, that kicked Adam and Eve out of heaven. Think about it...