Orgeat (pronounced OR-zha) is a rich, sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar, and orange flower water. It's thick, fragrant, slightly creamy — and nothing else tastes like it. Orgeat is the defining sweetener of the Mai Tai and appears throughout tiki cocktail culture as both sweetener and flavor. The combination of almond and orange blossom creates something floral, nutty, and distinctly tropical. It adds body and a faint creaminess to anything it touches. Quality varies enormously between brands — cheap orgeat can be cloyingly sweet and artificial.
Why It Matters
Orgeat is not interchangeable with simple syrup. Where simple syrup adds neutral sweetness, orgeat adds flavor — almond, floral, slightly exotic. In the Mai Tai specifically, orgeat is half the character of the drink. Substitute simple syrup and you don't have a Mai Tai.
Where You'll Use It
Mai Tai, Japanese Cocktail, Trader Vic's classics, and any tiki drink that calls for it. Also used in some sours to add almond character in place of or alongside simple syrup.