Four drops of our Orange Spice Drops do the work of half an orange's zest, with no grater and no bitter pith. Half of every bottle is orange oil, labelled as a natural flavour, and the drops won a two-star Great Taste Award in 2016.

The rest of the bottle is an emulsifier, which is why the flavour disperses through water-based mixes as readily as through fat. There is no water in the bottle either, so a few drops go into a ganache or a chocolate filling as easily as into a syrup or a cake batter.

How to Use Orange Spice Drops 

Think of the bottle as a zester. Count four drops for every half orange a recipe calls for, then taste and adjust from there. Stir them into cake and muffin batters before baking, beat them through a ganache once it has come together, or swirl them into a sugar syrup for drizzle cakes and fruit salads. With no flecks of peel, they suit smooth fillings and clear syrups that fresh zest would spoil. Cap the bottle after each use and keep it somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight; stored that way it lasts up to three years.

Pairings and Ideas 

Dark chocolate is the classic partner for orange, and almond, cranberry, cinnamon and cardamom all bring out its brightness too.

• Chocolate orange ganache for truffles and bonbons
• Orange and almond cake or polenta loaf
• Orange drizzle syrup for loaf cakes
• Cranberry and orange muffins
• Orange and cardamom shortbread
• Spiced orange hot chocolate