Conference turris::cooks

>    What is orange blossom water?  Where can I find it.  I live in New
>    Hampshire.  Do you know of a local store or can I make it?
    
orangy tasting fluid - not sure how, exactly it is made...you can often find
it, however, in health food stores - at least we can out here in Silly Cone
valley.  Might try some "fingers do the walking" shopping around first, though.

  It doesn't taste anything like oranges!!! At least not in my opinion.

  It's popular in French cooking and is made from the petals of the
  blossom of the orange tree, which, like other citrus blossoms, is very
  fragrant. If you smell it, you might convince yourself that there's a
  hint of the fruit essence in the aroma, but if you didn't know what it
  was, I doubt very much you'd guess where it came from. It's got a very
  perfumey fragrance, and is fairly potent -- a few drops will be enough
  for most recipes (usually desserts, but occasionally other dishes). We
  have a tiny bottle that's lasted for at least five years.

  As to where to get it, I haven't bothered to look in the New England
  area, but I'd imagine that some supermarkets might have it (e.g.,
  Triple-A), almost definitely gourmet farm stands like Idylwilde Farms
  in Acton, and probably some of the places in the malls, like Hickory
  Farms, International Fare (at Pheasant Lane), etc.

    
    
                     Crabtree and Evelyn carry it.
                     It comes in a blue glass bottle.
    
                     dm
                      

I'm pretty sure I have seen it in "Earthwards", Rte. 101a, Milford, NH

  re .3 (blue glass bottle), yes it seems to be traditional for it to
  come in a cobalt-blue bottle. Isn't that wild? I have no idea why,
  though aside from tradition, it might be to protect it from breaking
  down under exposure to light.

    
    Dairy Fresh Candies on Salem St. in Boston (the north end) will
    probably have it.

    Well, rosewater comes in cobalt-blue glass bottles, too - I alwasy
    assumed that the fragrance might degrade if the contents were exposed
    to light.  I've never found a use for orange-blossom water anyhow, but
    "gourmet" stores carry it.
    
    /Charlotte

    I found rose water and orange flower water in a King Arthur Flour
    catalog I received yesterday.  It can be ordered via phone.  The toll
    free number is 1-800-827-6836.  5 oz. of either is $7.50.  The catalog
    reads - "These natural essences from English Provender are delicious in
    cakes, mousses, icings, puddings and pastries.  They're often used in
    Middle Eastern desserts, but can make any dish - a salad, a sweet and
    sour stew - exotic.  Recipes included".
    
        Flo

  Example of some "exotic" desserts you can make with it (at least ones
  we've tried): 

  - orange flower ice cream or sherbet

  - a couple of drops in a fresh fruit salad (this is actually not so
    exotic, and actually pretty tasty, but we prefer Grand Marnier :-)

  Can't recall any others. I've got the "american palate" upbringing
  which finds it hard to take perfumey flavors in food -- makes me think
  I'm eating soap. One could certainly learn to like it, though.

    Orange blossom water is very good for nervous persons too. It used to
    be given instead of pills (anti-depresants) and worked very well, my
    Mom always had a small jar of it on hand...
    There is a spanish recipe, a dessert called "Roscon de Reyes" with this
    ingredient. I don't know how the orange blosson wate is made, but I
    know how it tastes and how effective it is (and totally harmless)
    In spanish is called "Agua de Azahar".

    Orange blossom water is made by distilling orange blossoms.  It's
    a common ingredient in North African cooking.  It's a good addition
    to a sugar syrup for fresh fruit.  It's also part of a Moroccan
    salad dressing that consists of orange juice, lemon juice, sugar,
    salt, cinnamon and orange blossom water.  I like the salad dressing
    on a Moroccan Romaine lettuce, date, walnut, and oranges salad.  It's
    also considered to be a good skin tonic.  The North Africans use it
    to relieve fever.  Soak a face cloth in a combination of orange blossom
    water and water and place it on your forehead--very cooling.  The
    Arabic word for orange blossom water is Zar which also means lucky.
    One tradition is to splash your guests with a few drops of it when
    they enter your home to bid them welcome and wish them good-luck.

it also adds a nice flavor to iced tea - refreshing on a hot, muggy day.