September 2007- If you happen to drive through the countryside around Saida, Lebanon, during early spring you may find yourself suddenly overcome by the delicate, heady perfume of fresh orange blossom.

The village of Maghdouche, near Saida, sits on a hill surrounded by orchards of orange trees and is well-known for the harvesting of orange flowers and the making of their by-products.

By the end of February or early March, the flowers of the bitter orange tree (abou sfeir) (Citrus aurantium var. amara or bigaradia) are in full bloom. It is at this time that the flowers are harvested by hand, sorted and sold by the kilo on the market for the preparation of orange flower water, "Maa Zaher". 1 kg of flowers is needed to make one ½ liter bottle of "Maa Zaher". The fresh orange flowers are mixed with water, and "Maa Zaher" is produced by a process of heating in a still.

"Maa Zaher" is used in many Middle Eastern dessert dishes and, especially in Lebanon, also used to make "white coffee" or "café blanc" (qahweh baida) by simply adding a few drops of "Maa Zaher" to hot water, with sugar to taste. This is an excellent, healthy digestive drink.

The fruit, bitter orange, cannot be eaten as a fruit but is used to make preserves, "abou sfeir bel seccar", marmalade, "abou sfeir bel katter" and syrup.

Three kinds of essential oils (also produced by distillation) are extracted from different varieties of orange trees. They are used in aromatherapy and perfumery (an ingredient of Eau de Cologne).

Neroli is extracted from the freshly picked flowers of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium bigaradia). It is calming, relaxing and anti-depressant. A very costly product, 1 ton of flower is needed to produce 1 liter of oil.

Petitgrain is extracted from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium amara). It is a remedy for stress and tiredness.

Orange, is extracted from the fresh fruit peel of the sweet orange tree (Citrus sinensis). It helps slow digestion and alleviates stress.