Can anything be more characteristic of spring in the Mediterranean than the scent of orange blossom? The orange fields are filled with extremely aromatic white blossoms and everything around them fills with a wonderful citrus scent.  The scent of orange blossom also marks the beginning of what will be our next citrus season after the summer, thus combining on our farms the fruits still to be harvested with next year's harvest in the pipeline. 

The beauty of the flowers and their unmistakable aroma make them have multiple applications in daily life, from cooking to cosmetics. Among the main uses of orange blossom, we can find: 

In the cuisine 

Orange blossom has been a widely used ingredient in gastronomy for centuries. Its best-known use is orange blossom water, which is obtained by distilling the orange blossom petals in water, thus concentrating its essential oils. Orange blossom water is used in the preparation of roscones de Reyes (a typical Spanish dessert prepared for Epiphany on January 6th), as well as in many other confectionery recipes to give it a citrus touch. 

The petals of the flower are edible and are increasingly used to decorate dishes beyond gourmet cuisine. Because of its sugary touch, orange blossom is widely used in desserts, but it can also be found in savoury dishes because of the contrast it presents on the palate. The use of edible flowers in cooking is a way of adding colour, freshness and aroma to food, as well as various flavours as a seasoning.

Therapeutic uses

Orange blossom is also used to prepare infusions due to its main properties. For example, an infusion of orange blossom with honey or lemon can help to relieve headaches thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, its calming properties help to control stress levels and help you fall asleep. 

In the case of infusions, it is best to use dried or dehydrated petals as they retain all their aroma and have a long shelf life. A small number of petals added to an herbal tea or tea will give us the perfect combination of aroma and flavour, maintaining all their properties.

In cosmetics 

Finally, another of the best known uses of orange blossom is in cosmetics, especially in perfumes and soaps due, once again, to its characteristic fruity scent. Orange blossom is also a recurring ingredient in the creation of essential oils. Because of its vitamin C content, this type of oil helps the production of collagen and enhances the brightness of both skin and hair. 

As with the infusions, the external use of orange blossom has soothing properties for the skin. Essential oils based on this flower and orange blossom water used in cosmetics improve the elasticity of dry skin and help to control excess shine in oily skin. Essential oils with vitamin C can be perfect antioxidants, protecting our organism from external agents, such as the sun, and reducing the damage they cause to the skin. 

In short, orange blossom, in addition to illuminating and flavouring our fields in spring, has many beneficial properties for health, both in its use on the body and in food.