Mazandaran Grove
Bitter orange and pistachio from the citrus groves between mountain and sea.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | ml | oz |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco tequila | 45 ml | 1½ oz |
| Fresh bitter orange juice · homemade, J08 | 20 ml | ⅔ oz |
| Pistachio orgeat · homemade, P10 | 15 ml | ½ oz |
| Velvet Falernum | 7.5 ml | ¼ oz |
| Fresh lime juice · homemade, J01 | 5 ml | 1 tsp |
Ounces are rounded; measure in ml for accuracy. Homemade items link to their own page.
chilled coupe
shaken with ice, served up
orange peel
The story
Between the Alborz mountains and the Caspian Sea, Mazandaran is a ribbon of citrus groves: oranges, tangerines and the bitter narenj, whose juice is squeezed over grilled fish and kebab and whose blossom scents the spring. Narenjestan means “bitter-orange grove.” This sour pairs the fruit’s sharp, aromatic juice with a soft pistachio orgeat and a touch of spice.
Method
- Shake the orgeat bottle well.
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 12 seconds.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- Express an orange peel over the top.
How it tastes
Bright and bittersweet, with aromatic bitter orange, a soft nutty middle and warm lime-and-clove spice.
Persian taste: torsh (sour), talkh (bitter)
Pair it with
- Food: Mahi kababi, grilled Caspian fish with bitter orange.
- Sweet: Candied orange peel (morabba-ye pust-e porteghal).
- Snack: Torshi-ye sir, or salted pistachios
Variations
Out of season
Use equal parts fresh orange and lime juice instead of bitter orange.
Smoky grove
Replace 15 ml tequila with mezcal.
Nut-free grove
Replace the orgeat with 10 ml plain syrup and a drop of orange-blossom water.
Balancing tips
- Bitter orange acidity varies; taste before adding the lime.
- Two sweet modifiers are used; if too sweet, reduce the falernum.
Allergens
- Pistachio (tree nut)
- Velvet Falernum contains almond flavor (check label)
- Contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.
Development notes
- Status: draft recipe, not yet taste-tested.
- Check bitter-orange acidity and the two sweet modifiers.
Watch it mixed
Follow along
Steps light up as the animation plays. Tap a step to jump to it.
Heads-up: this animation was rendered from an earlier draft, so the amounts on screen differ slightly. Follow the ingredient table above.
Mazandaran, imagined
