Orange Blossom Water (Nomah)

The process of distillation, said to be invented by the Persians, has been used since 3000 B.C. firstly to produce perfumes. The production of the orange essence was developed during the rule of the Umayyad caliphates, thirteen centuries ago.

Using ancestral techniques, Nomah Orange Blossom Water, or Mazaher in Arabic, is produced by distilling handpicked flowers from orange trees, with no additives or artificial flavours.

It adds a distinctive citrus-floral aroma to a variety of recipes and is the main ingredient of the famous Lebanese "white coffee” made by adding one teaspoon of orange blossom water to a cup of boiling water. It is also a main ingredient of sugar syrup ("qatr") that accompanies many Lebanese desserts.

Artisanally made by women in Tripoli, North Lebanon.