“It is a medicine for the heart and a messenger of love,” is how a poet once described the bitter orange flower, whose blossoming season is highly celebrated each April by inhabitants of Nabeul, 60 kilometers northeast of Tunis. There is hardly a garden in the region that does not grow a bitter orange tree.

“It is a medicine for the heart and a messenger of love,” is how a poet once described the bitter orange flower, whose blossoming season is highly celebrated each April by inhabitants of Nabeul, 60 kilometers northeast of Tunis. There is hardly a garden in the region that does not grow a bitter orange tree.

 “I and my daughters, as well as my large family members eagerly await the advent of spring with its fragrance,” says Jameela, a young Nabeul farmer, adding that her family and neighbors dedicate certain days for get-togethers at the flower fields and to celebrate the first harvest days with lots of merrymaking and cooking. “The start of flowers picking season brings much joy to our hearts, and we also gain good profits,” she added.

Flower distillation season is a source of income for about 3,000 families. Jameela distills orange flower for commercial gains, a business she has inherited from her mother and grandmother. She also participates in some exhibitions, particularly Nabeul International Exhibition where she distils flowers on the spot. “I still use a traditional distiller because it gives us a quality much more advanced than the trendy ways. Besides, our method is inherited from our ancestors and I will never give it up as long as I live,” she stressed.

A town full of bitter orange blossoms

Nabeul Governorate is distinguished by its bitter orange trees planted along the sidewalks of various towns. Each year, the local authorities announce a public auction to invest the yields of their trees.

The flowers fields and orchards cover about 350 hectares with about 120,000 bitter orange trees producing 1,000-1,200 tons of flowers. Towns of Nabeul, Dar Chaabane and Béni Khiar produce about 65 per cent of these trees. And the Governorate is one of the most important exporters of light neroli oil which is used in the manufacture of perfumes and cosmetics. Based on available figures, Nabeul’s annual exports of high-quality neroli oil to French markets are 500-700 kilograms.

Some towns use these bottles as a symbol of their cities, such as Béni Khiar – adjacent to Nabeul and famous for its bitter flower forests – which has constructed a bottle-like statue. (see photo)

Brief history

The bitter orange tree is classified under the citrus family, and its fruit looks like an orange, but it is inedible and is only used for distillation, where the flowers are boiled in water to extract orange flower water, and the leaves are also used to extract orange leaf water. Each of these extracts has special benefits for medical treatment, or as food additives or perfume.

The bitter orange plant was first discovered in China and later in India. Afterwards, it was found in Europe, particularly Spain. The tree was brought through North Africa to Nabeul, which is famous for its citrus trees due to its fertile soil and agreeable climate.

Distillation

Having been born and raised among bitter orange trees, Salem says bitter orange flowers go through several stages before they turn into orange flower water. Women, says Salem, pick the fully grown blossoms, leaving the little buds until they bloom because they are unsuitable for extracting high quality oils.

He explains that it is advisable to pick the flowers in temperate and clear weather since high or low temperature affects the flowers’ fragrance, and also to conduct distillation within a ‘conventional distiller’, a container whose lower part is made of copper and top part is made of clay, since it yields better results than ‘modern distillation’ equipment, usually made of a special stainless metal. “The traditional distillation method using clay vessels is much better than the modern equipment which does not provide the same quality,” says Salem.

 According to him, a measured quantity of water and flowers should be placed in the bottom vessel and cold water is put in the clay cover, which has to be monitored and changed as it gets warm during distillation. When the distillation process is completed, the distilled liquid would be kept in special flasks.

Perfume and medication

Ahmed, a specialist in bitter orange blossom distillation, says orange flowers water has multiple significant benefits and applications since it is used for treatment, such as skin problems especially acne, and for preparing many traditional cuisines and sweet dishes. It is also used to induce quiet and calm sleep and against fever and sun stroke. It is further used to manufacture special perfumes in foreign countries, especially France where it is sold at high prices at upscale perfumeries.

Orange flower exhibition

Bitter orange trees have attracted attention internationally. This year, Nabeul’s City Maintenance Association organized its 51st annual exhibition, which celebrates this flower and demonstrates all methods of its distillation. Moreover, a special day has been dedicated as Bitter Orange Flowers Day, which underscores its significance across the Nabeul region.

People of Nabeul highly value the bitter orange tree since it is not only a source of livelihood, but also a reflection of the much boasted customs and traditions. In addition, this tree attracts the attention of both foreign and Tunisian tourists who, thanks to its great fame, are encouraged to visit Nabeul and get a flask of its fragrant water.