Orange blossom is the white, intensely fragrant flower of the bitter orange tree, Citrus aurantium. It is the flower behind neroli and orange-flower water, and its scent is floral, honeyed and faintly citrusy. It is one of the 15 botanicals in TeaTapee’s blend, where it adds a light floral top note above the earthy Jewel Vine base and the warm spices.
This profile covers the flower itself: what it is, where it comes from, what it smells and tastes like, and what it brings to a cup of Thai herbal tea.
What is orange blossom?
When people say orange blossom, they usually mean the flowers of the bitter orange, also called Seville orange, rather than the sweet orange eaten as fruit. The bitter orange tree belongs to the citrus family, Rutaceae. Its small white flowers are strongly fragrant.
Distilling the flowers produces two things: neroli, a precious essential oil used in perfumery, and orange-flower water, the fragrant water used in cooking.
Where does orange blossom come from?
The bitter orange is a very old cultivated citrus, most likely a cross between the pomelo and the mandarin, and its origins lie in southern China. It is now grown around the Mediterranean. Most of the world’s orange blossom harvest today comes from Tunisia and Morocco, with smaller amounts from Spain and Egypt.
What does orange blossom smell and taste like?
Orange blossom smells floral and sweet, with a honeyed warmth and a fresh, faintly green citrus edge. It is less sharp than orange peel: you get the idea of citrus without the acidity. Much of that scent comes from linalool, one of the most common floral aroma compounds.
In a cup the effect is delicate. Orange blossom does not taste of orange juice; it adds perfume, a soft floral sweetness that lifts the aroma.
How is orange blossom used in food and drink?
Orange-flower water is a classic flavoring across the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean. It scents syrups for pastries such as baklava, filled cookies such as ma’amoul, rice puddings and custards, and it is stirred into lemonade and tea. Dried orange blossoms also appear in some tea blends as a fragrant note.
What does orange blossom add to TeaTapee’s blend?
In TeaTapee’s blend, orange blossom is finely ground with the other 14 botanicals and sealed into tea bags. It brings a light, honeyed floral top note that lifts the aroma without adding actual citrus flavor, and together with goji berry it rounds off the sharper notes at the finish. It is also one of the botanicals behind the blend’s gentle natural sweetness, alongside cinnamon and star anise.
The role of each herb explains what each botanical brings to the blend, the guide to all 15 herbs covers the rest of the blend, and brewing the perfect cup covers how to make a cup.
If you would like to taste it, orange blossom is one of the 15 botanicals in TeaTapee’s 15-herb tea bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is orange blossom?
Orange blossom is the flower of the bitter orange tree, Citrus aurantium, in the citrus family Rutaceae. It is the flower used to make neroli and orange-flower water.
What does orange blossom taste like in tea?
Orange blossom adds a light, floral, honeyed aroma with a faint citrus edge. It does not taste of orange juice; it perfumes the cup rather than adding sourness.
Is orange blossom the same as neroli?
Neroli is the essential oil distilled from bitter orange blossoms. Orange-flower water is made in the same process. The blossom itself is the flower they both come from.
Where does orange blossom come from?
The bitter orange originated in southern China and is now grown around the Mediterranean. Most orange blossom today is harvested in Tunisia and Morocco.
Does orange blossom make tea taste of orange?
Not really. Orange blossom is floral rather than fruity, so it lifts the aroma and adds a gentle sweetness without the sharp, tangy flavor of orange peel or juice.