Orris Root Powder 250g (Sussex Wholefoods)

Orris Root Powder

The beautiful iris flower holds a fascinating secret. Its root – when dried and ground down - produces the finely scented orris powder. This rare spice is sourced from the root of the iris pallida and iris germanica plants. Once the plant has matured over three years, its roots are harvested, peeled by skilled hands and then allowed to dry in the air until hard - they're then milled to create orris root powder. With its scent and flavour reminiscent of parma violets, one of its key applications is in gin production, but it also has multiple cosmetic uses.

• Dried orris root has a sweet, floral scent which has been used far and wide in the manufacturing of perfumes for many years. It is valued within the industry not just for its floral, elegant scent, but also for its ability to enhance other scents and bind fragrances.
• When distilled, orris root's floral notes are complemented by an earthy sweetness that can add depth and texture to gin. Orris root is used in gin as a base note to help ‘fix' other botanical ingredients.
• In North Africa, orris root powder is frequently used in the premium spice mix known as Ras el Hanout. It is a source of pride amongst Moroccan spice traders to have only the very best spices for their unique blends – which is why orris root deserves its reputation as a premium ingredient.
• 250g.