Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Orzata (Almond Syrup Drink)
A highly refreshing, milky-white, non-alcoholic summer drink made from almond and bitter almond syrup, mixed simply with ice-cold water.
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 2 min
- Servings
- 1
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 1 serving
- Orzata syrup (Italian almond syrup)
- ice-cold still or sparkling water
- ice cubes
- mint sprig (optional)
Equipment
- Tall glass
- Spoon
Instructions
- 1
Chill Water
Ensure your water (either still or sparkling) is as cold as possible.
- 2
Prepare Glass
Take a tall highball glass.
- 3
Add Ice
Fill the glass halfway with fresh ice cubes.
- 4
Pour Syrup
Pour 1 to 1.5 oz (30-45ml) of high-quality Orzata syrup over the ice.
- 5
Examine Syrup
True Italian Orzata is slightly cloudy and smells intensely of marzipan (due to the bitter almond extract).
- 6
Add Water
Top the glass with about 5-6 oz of ice-cold water.
- 7
Watch the Cloud
As the water hits the syrup, the drink will immediately turn opaque and milky white (the louche effect).
- 8
Stir
Stir vigorously with a long spoon to dissolve the heavy syrup into the water.
- 9
Taste
Taste and adjust. It should be sweet but highly refreshing. Add more water if it is too cloying.
- 10
Garnish
Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or a slice of lemon, and serve immediately on a hot day.
Cooking Tips
- Orzata is NOT the same as French Orgeat. Orgeat contains orange blossom water and is used in Mai Tais. Italian Orzata is purely almond/bitter almond focused.
- It is traditionally served with still water, but sparkling water makes a fantastic modern variation.
Variations
- Latte e Menta: A similar concept using bright green mint syrup and cold milk instead of water.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Historically, this was made from barley (orzo), hence the name, before almonds became the standard ingredient.
Nutrition Estimate
80 calories · 0g protein · 20g carbs · 0g fat · 0g fiber per serving
