Distilled Orange Flower Water

Liguria, which has been known throughout the centuries as "Le pays où fleurit l'oranger" (the land where orange trees blossom), is perfumed with the aroma of orange blossoms. Bitter orange blossoms are harvested in the spring, one by one, slowly picked by hand and allowed to fall onto jute cloths. After the harvest, they are taken to the classic stills for many hours of distillation. The little white flowers are distilled with passion and experience in Vallebona, near Imperia, by the Guglielmi family, whose ancient distillery, forming part of the Presidio Slow Food initiative, has been in operation for more than 160 years.