orgeat

Orgeat is a sweet syrup flavored primarily with almonds. The traditional base is blanched almonds, water, and sugar, often enriched with a touch of rose water or orange blossom water. Some formulations include apricot kernels to deepen the almond character, and commercial versions may use almond extract or emulsifiers to maintain smoothness and clarity.

Preparation typically involves infusing ground almonds in water to extract the flavor, followed by straining and sweetening. The mixture may be simmered briefly and strained again before bottling. For home preparation, soaking the almonds first and adding the fragrance toward the end is common. Orgeat can be found in both clear and slightly cloudy forms, depending on how it is processed.

Origins of orgeat trace to the Mediterranean and Near East, with written recipes appearing in early modern Europe. The name is French, and etymology commonly links it to orge, the French word for barley, reflecting a barley-water component in older forms of the drink, though modern syrups rely primarily on almond-based flavoring.

Uses of orgeat are broad. It is a key ingredient in many cocktails, most famously in the Mai Tai and various tiki drinks, providing a distinct almond sweetness and floral fragrance. It is also used in non-alcoholic beverages, lemonades, coffees, and desserts to impart almond flavoring.