Orgeat syrup

Two mason jars and a bottle of homemade orgeat syrup

Orgeat syrup is a sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar and rose water or orange flower water. It was, however, originally made with a barley-almond blend. It has a pronounced almond taste and is used to flavor many cocktails, perhaps the most famous of which is the Mai Tai.

The word "orgeat" (pronounced /ɔrˈʒɑː/ or /ˈɔrdʒiːət/) is derived from the Latin hordeata "made with barley" through the French, where barley is called orge. The Spanish word horchata has the same origin, though today the two drinks have little else in common.

In Tunisia, it is called "rozata" and is usually served chilled in wedding and engagement parties as a symbol of joy and purity because of its white colour and its fresh (flowery) flavor. It comes in many different flavours, such as traditional almond, banana, mango, pistachio, among others.

In Suriname, there is a drink called orgeade, which is a similar syrup made of sugar and almonds.

In Italy, there is a drink called orzata, which is a syrup made of benzoin resin. It only contains some of the bitter almond flavour.

Maltese ruġġata is made of almond and vanilla essence and may include cinnamon and cloves.^[1]

In Cyprus and on the Greek islands of Chios and Nisyros, a similar drink is known as soumada.

See also

• Drink mixers

The term - orgeat - provided it is accepted as the translation of the italian term - orzata - is generically representative of soft drinks of vegetable origin obtained from the milling of cereals, tubers, seeds, nuts and fruits.

It is a general misconception, in Italy as elsewhere in the world, that almonds are involved. The flavour of orgeat is completely different from the almond paste based drink called - latte di mandorle -, literally - milk of the almonds -

It is conceivable that the term almond be found on the label but only as an aroma, including, but not exclusive to, the aroma of bitter almonds

This drink is of Ottoman origin and has been delivered through Italy to Europe and the World.

References