Orgeat

What is Orgeat?

Orgeat is an almond syrup, super popular during the ‘tiki’ drinks craze of the 1930s and 1940s. It’s used in a lot of tropical style drinks, including one of our favourites, the Mai Tai. It’s also used in a lot of pre-prohibition classics like the Japanese Cocktail. There are some amazing flavours in here too that transform your drinks. Commonly, its made with Rose and Orange Blossom water so you get a really perfumed and bright flavour complementing the toasty almonds.

Why should I make Orgeat?

Traditional recipes call for blanched almonds that are blended with water and then strained, it can get messy. We have a ‘shortcut’ recipe below that is commonly used. We’ve been using it for years and it’s amazing.

This recipe provides consistent results and flavours every time you make it and its a lot quicker and easier. You just need to get a quality almond milk.

You can buy Orgeat. Our recommendation though is to make it yourself. It will last for months and months (stored properly!) It’s cheap and frankly, better than most shop bought Orgeat.

Once you’ve made it you can explore the world of tropical cocktails and there are some amazing drinks to be tried!

Ingredients

2 cups/mugs unsweetened almond milk – buy a quality unsweetened 100% almond milk. Make sure its unsweetened, we’ll add the sugar!
3 cups of plain white sugar
Optional but great – 1tsp of Pomegranate Molasses. It’s great in salad dressings too
1/2tsp of Rose Water – it’s very strong, add just a little – don’t be tempted!
1/2 tsp of Almond extract
1 tsp of Orange Blossom water

How to make it.

Prep Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
1 minute	3-4 minutes	5 minutes

Preheat a saucepan on a low heat
Add in the almond milk and sugar
Stir to combine until all the sugar is dissolved
Keep it on a low heat and stir constantly, don’t let it boil or simmer
Keep going until all the sugar grains are gone
Once fully combined remove from the heat and add the Almond extract, Rose water and Orange Blossom water. Give it a stir and you’re done

Storing your Orgeat

Store in the fridge in an airtight bottle that has been sterilised beforehand. Stored this way it will last about a month. Our recipe above will make enough Orgeat for a few months!

Our tip, freeze it! It will last for months and months in the freezer. Then decant a little syrup into a bottle in the fridge as you need it. Perfect, an indefinite supply of homemade Orgeat! Time for a Mai Tai.