Orange blossom water a key source of livelihood for 300 families in Maghdoosheh

The processing of orange blossom water in Lebanon is a popular trade that many households in Maghdoosheh rely on for their livelihoods. This town is one of very few southern areas that still sustain the traditional profession of distilling and purifying orange flower water to produce 80-100 tons of it annually. Some 300 families are involved in harvesting the orange blossom working together as a family to save labor cost. The growing of citrus trees in Maghdoosheh relies entirely on rainfalls which distinguishes it from other essence waters produced in other areas. However, the current season has not been a promising one as a result of unprecedented snowstorms and late spring seasonal winds that hardly hit the trees prior to their blossoming period. This industry is normally profitable but arduous. It starts with picking the orange blossoms which need considerable physical strength and stamina for long hours of daily work. Extracting the flower water also requires patience. Flowers are collected piece by piece from orchards to be later sieved and sold in the market. The remaining quantities are taken to a state-of-the-art new factory established by Hariri Foundation with funding from USAID and managed by the local cooperative association which buys the orange blossoms from farmers. The Cooperative chief Nabil Khoury noted that the factory produces about 80 tons of blossom water each year and sells one kilogram between LBP 6 and 7.5 thousand according to demand. Khoury pointed out that the flowers are tested in modern labs to ensure quality, adding that the association is also supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lebanese expatriates in New York. (As Safir, 12 May 2015)