The white flower of different trees is called orange blossom.
Azahar is a term that comes from the Hispanic Arabic azzahár , in turn derived from the classical Arabic zahr (which can be translated as "flowers" ). A white flower is called orange blossom.
Before moving forward with the definition of orange blossom, it is important to focus on the idea of a flower. This is the name given to the shoot of plants, which is generally made up of colorful leaves that may or may not be fertile. The flowers allow the formation of the fruit and have a reproductive function.
Types of orange blossom
We said above that the orange blossom is a flower that is characterized by having a whitish hue. Lemon trees ( Citrus × limon ) and orange trees ( Citrus × sinensis ), thus, are trees that have orange blossoms, to mention two cases.
The best-known orange blossom, in fact, is the orange blossom . Not only because of its appearance and its fragrance, but also because of the properties attributed to it. These flowers can appear in clusters or isolated.
Another orange blossom is the citron , citron or citron , common names of the plant whose scientific name is Citrus medica . This species is a small shrub or tree.
The neroli
Neroli or neroli , words from the French néroli , is the result of the distillation of orange blossoms. This product is used in the field of perfumery .
The chemical substance that shares the aroma with this element is also called neroli. Geraniol and limonene are some of the components of this essential oil that can dissolve in alcohol .
Orange blossom water is used in baking.
orange blossom water
Orange blossom water is another product obtained by distilling orange blossom flowers. In this case , the usual thing is to use Citrus x aurantium flowers (known as bitter orange or sour orange ).
To produce orange blossom water, an infusion is prepared with the petals and then the distillation process is carried out using steam. The resulting liquid is clear and fragrant.
Orange blossom water should be stored in dark containers; Otherwise, light can alter its qualities. Obtaining orange blossom water is usually carried out in industrial stills, although there are those who do the procedure at home.
Due to its active ingredients, this fluid is used for the treatment of various ailments. It is considered a natural sedative that helps minimize menstrual pain and digestive disorders, for example .
Its use in baking
It is interesting to mention that orange blossom water is used to make different baking recipes. In some regions, it is a key ingredient in panettone , panettone , Easter bread or sweet bread , which also contains candied fruits and raisins.
The dough of the roscón or Three Kings thread , meanwhile, is flavored with a few drops of orange blossom water. This bun, as its name suggests, is traditionally eaten during the day of January 6 .
It should be noted that the use of orange blossom water when cooking must be measured. If the suggested amount is exceeded, the preparation may become bitter or acquire an overly intense aroma.