Orgeat - Italian advise required

[mammel]

I seen many threads make brief mention of Orgeat, the mix that would be used for Mai Tai's etc..

I have not seen this mix available in my area. My local supermarket is a large italian based store chain (catering largely to the local italian population). I saw on the shelf a product called "Orzata". Reading the label it says its an almond syrop that is intended to be mixed with water at a ratio of 1:4. It appears to be a concentrated drink mix, which is also labelled as a syrop.

In the bottle it is a milky colour.

Does anyone have any idea if this might be the same as regular Orgeat mentioned on here? Are there any Italian based folks here than can shed light on the nature of this product?

I have also read some posts about Orgeat containing rose or orange flavours (in addition to the almond) if this additional flavor is not present, can it be added using something like rose water? How pronounced is the accent orange or rose flavor in the overall orgeat taste?

Thanks

[Tiare]

Originally Posted by mammel

I have also read some posts about Orgeat containing rose or orange flavours (in addition to the almost) if this additional flavor is not present, can it be added using something like rose water? How pronounced is the accent orange or rose flavor in the overall orgeat taste?

When i make orgeat i add a little rose water and a little orange flower water. I buy them in Arabic food shops.

The Orzata is most likely concentrated almond syrup. I think the Italians dilute it with water to make a soda.

[mammel]

Originally Posted by Tiare

When i make orgeat i add a little rose water and a little orange flower water. I buy them in Arabic food shops.

The Orzata is most likely concentrated almond syrup. I think the Italians dilute it with water to make a soda.

Can you actually taste the orange or rose? or is it just a subtle addition that you can tell there is something extra present, but you cant quite tell what it is?

[Tiare]

To me, i cannot taste the rose or orange water but i can feel a subtle hint of the fragrance and that is what its for... just as the sprig of mint which adds both aroma and decoration. A Mai Tai is traditionally served in a double old fashioned glass which is a low and wide glass that allows you to feel the fragrance of the mint.

See this thread which at the end talks about aromas in cocktails:

http://www.ministryofrum.com/forums/...read.php?t=853

[mammel]

Tiare,

When you make your Orgeat how finely do you chop up the almonds? I ask this because I have seen almond butter sold in my local store. It is finely ground almonds (like peanut butter) but it is made with pure almonds...with nothing else added. Could this be used in the orgeat recipe, rather than grinding them up yourself? It would save a step wouldnt it? It would also give you access to more almond flavour, esscense and oils given the smaller particles (at least in theory).

YOu could make the oreat and filter our the finer almond butter after the fact, coudlnt you?

[Tiare]

I chop them finely but i have never tried finely grind almonds. When the almonds have been in the water and is squeezed through the cheezecloth the goal is to get out as much extract as you can from the almonds so logicaly if they were grind you would get out more. The recipes i`ve seen use chopped almonds. But you don`t have to go through the labour with blanching and extracting the almonds, you can also buy ready made almond milk in a health shop if you prefer that.
And then maybe adding some bitter almond extract.

[mammel]

Originally Posted by mammel

I saw on the shelf a product called "Orzata". Reading the label it says its an almond syrop that is intended to be mixed with water at a ratio of 1:4. It appears to be a concentrated drink mix, which is also labelled as a syrop.

Just as a follow up to my original post. I have just received my new copy of Grog Log and Intoxica the other day. Jeff Berry specifically makes mention that Orgeat and the Orzata I had previously asked about, as essentially being the same thing...