✔ Updated · safer storage times + almond milk shortcut + mocktail
Orgeat (say “or-zhaa”) is a creamy almond syrup with a whisper of orange blossom, the secret sweetener in a Mai Tai. My homemade version is just almonds, sugar, water and an overnight soak, and it tastes so much fresher than bottled.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Squeeze the nut milk bag like you mean it. The last thick drops of almond milk carry the most flavor.
Why You'll Love Homemade Orgeat
- Fresh, real almond flavor, creamy and nutty with a floral finish.
- Four basic ingredients and about 15 minutes of actual work.
- So versatile: tiki cocktails, iced coffee, lemonade and Italian sodas.
What Is Orgeat?
Orgeat is a sweet, creamy syrup made from almonds, sugar and a little orange flower water. It started out in Europe as a barley-and-almond drink and became a tiki bar essential, giving the Mai Tai its rich, nutty roundness.
Curious about other sweeteners for drinks? See our guide to agave nectar vs syrup.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Blanched or raw? Blanched almonds make a whiter, more delicate syrup; raw almonds with skins give a slightly toastier, darker one. I like toasting a quarter of them lightly for extra depth.
- Don't skip the overnight soak. I've rushed it with a 2-hour soak and the syrup tasted like sweet water. Eight hours is the sweet spot.
- Go easy on the orange flower water. It's potent. Half a teaspoon is a whisper; a full teaspoon starts to taste like perfume.
- Keep the heat low. Boiling almond milk can split and taste cooked. Warm it only until the sugar disappears.
- Save the almond pulp. Spread it on a tray, dry it in a 200°F oven and use it like almond flour in muffins or granola.
- Freeze some. Pour extra syrup into an ice cube tray, then bag the cubes. One cube is roughly one cocktail's worth.
Orgeat (Homemade Almond Syrup)
20
servings (2 tablespoons)15
minutes5
minutes85
kcal8
hours20
minutesHomemade orgeat: raw almonds pulsed and soaked overnight in water, strained into a fresh almond milk, then warmed with sugar into a creamy, nutty syrup scented with orange flower water. Use it in Mai Tais and other tiki drinks, coffee and alcohol-free sodas.
Ingredients
2 cups raw almonds (blanched for a whiter syrup)
2 cups filtered water
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange flower water
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for a stronger almond flavor)
1 oz vodka or brandy (optional, adults only, helps it keep longer)
Directions
- Soak the Almonds
- Pulse the almonds in a food processor until coarsely chopped, about the size of rice grains. No processor? Seal them in a heavy zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- Tip the almonds into a bowl, pour over the filtered water and stir. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. The longer soak gives a stronger almond flavor.
- Strain and Sweeten
- Pour the almonds and water through a nut milk bag or a sieve lined with a double layer of cheesecloth into a saucepan. Squeeze hard to get out every drop of almond milk. Strain a second time if any bits slip through.
- Add the sugar to the almond milk and warm over medium-low heat, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is hot. Don’t let it boil.
- Take the pan off the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Stir in the orange flower water, the almond extract and the vodka or brandy, if using.
- Store
- Pour into a clean glass bottle or jar, seal and refrigerate. Shake well before each use, since it naturally separates.
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How to Use Orgeat (With and Without Alcohol)
Orgeat itself has no alcohol. The cocktail ideas below contain spirits and are for adults of legal drinking age only, so I've added my favorite alcohol-free drinks too.
- Mai Tai (contains rum): aged rum, lime juice, orange liqueur and orgeat over crushed ice. More ideas in our rum cocktails.
- Virgin Mai Tai (alcohol-free): pineapple and orange juice, lime and orgeat. Try our virgin Mai Tai.
- Almond lemonade (alcohol-free): 1 ounce orgeat in a glass of fresh lemonade over ice. This is the one Lucy and Max ask for.
- Italian soda: 1 ounce orgeat, sparkling water and a splash of cream.
- Coffee: a spoonful in iced coffee or a latte, like a nutty version of our homemade vanilla syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is orgeat syrup used for?
Orgeat is best known in tiki cocktails like the Mai Tai, Scorpion and Army and Navy. It's also lovely in iced coffee, lattes, lemonade, Italian sodas and drizzled over fruit or ice cream.
How long does homemade orgeat last?
Kept sealed in the fridge, homemade orgeat lasts about 2 weeks. With an ounce of vodka or brandy added, it keeps for about a month. Throw it out if it smells sour, turns cloudy in a new way or shows any mold.
Is orgeat the same as almond syrup?
Orgeat is a type of almond syrup, but classic orgeat is made from real almond milk and flavored with orange flower or rose water, so it's creamy and floral. Clear almond-flavored coffee syrups are thinner and usually made with extract.
Can I make orgeat with store-bought almond milk?
Yes, as a shortcut. Warm 1 cup unsweetened almond milk with 1 cup sugar until dissolved, then add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and 1/4 teaspoon orange flower water. It's thinner and less nutty than the homemade version, but very handy.
Is orgeat alcoholic?
No. Orgeat itself is alcohol-free, which makes it great in mocktails. The optional vodka or brandy in this recipe only helps it keep longer; leave it out if anyone under the legal drinking age will be drinking it.
Is orgeat safe for nut allergies?
No. Orgeat is made from almonds, so it isn't safe for anyone with a tree nut allergy. Some bars use a nut-free version, so always ask.
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