Homemade Orgeat Almond Syrup Recipe

Have you ever wondered what that nutty flavor is in your mai tai? It's a very important ingredient, and it's called orgeat almond syrup. Recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe for it, saying "This almond syrup is absolutely delicious, and makes a great sweetener for cocktails, mocktails, and even coffee. If you have never tasted it before, you may be missing out on a great ingredient that you can use to fancy up your cocktail or mocktail game!" 

Orgeat almond syrup originated in France, and got its name from the French word, orge, which means barley (via Cambridge Dictionary). Although mai tai's are the most common cocktail that includes orgeat syrup, you will also find it in a Trinidad sour, some Japanese cocktails, or even some renditions of a mojito. You can buy the syrup already made, but it's easy to whip this up in your own kitchen. Read on to learn how to make this easy orgeat syrup.

To make this recipe, you only need a few ingredients. First up, you'll need raw almonds. Hahn tells us, "You want to make sure the almonds you buy are raw and unsalted. We don't want to add a salty flavor to this sweet concoction." You'll also need some water, sugar, orange blossom water, and vodka. The orange blossom water may be something you need to pick up at a specialty store, or order online. The vodka helps preserve the orgeat syrup, making it last up to 2 months in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 350 F, and spread the almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook them for 8 minutes, remove them from the baking sheet, and let cool for about 5 minutes. Once cooled, put the almonds in a food processor, and blitz them into a crumb mixture. Hahn says to be careful not to over-process it, and make almond flour. Pour the ground almonds into a large bowl, and add the hot water. Cover loosely, and let sit for 2 hours to fully infuse the almond flavor into the water.

After the 2 hours has passed, pour the almond and water mixture into a mesh nut milk bag that is placed over a large bowl. Squeeze the bag tightly to release all of the almond water into the bowl, then discard the pulp that is left in the bag.

Pour this almond liquid into a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar, and stir for 3 minutes until it is fully dissolved. Add the orange blossom water and the vodka, and stir. Let the mixture cool for about 30 minutes before pouring it into a glass storage container. Now, your homemade orgeat almond syrup is ready to serve. "Once you have a bottle in your fridge, you'll find lots of things to add it to. My favorite is to combine about 1 ounce with a glass of soda water and ice. It's super refreshing, and a nice treat to have when you want something sweet and fizzy," Hahn shares.