What is Orange Zest?
Orange zest is the finely grated skin of the orange, a citrus fruit with a sweet and mildly tart flavor. The zest has none of the tartness but a floral flavor that tastes like the orange blossom smells, mixed with a gentle bitterness. When using zest, one should be careful to only remove the orange skin and not the bitter, white pith underneath. Orange zest is used to flavor desserts, such as cake batters and can be used in sauces and some savory items.
What does Orange Zest Taste Like?
...Sour is one of the five main tastes. It is tart and bright, sometimes with a mouth-puckering quality. Sour is a naturally occurring flavor found in many foods, including citrus, vinegar, various dairy products, and certain fruits. Sour is used to enhance a dish or drink and is used as both a main and complimentary flavor.
...Bitter is one of the five main tastes. It has a sharp and pungent profile. Bitter is a naturally occurring flavor in many foods, including coffee, chocolate, bitter melon, and chicory. Bitter is used sparingly to accentuate the flavors around it and can be mellowed by other tastes in both savory and sweet dishes.
Ingredients
...Orange zest is the finely grated skin of the orange, a citrus fruit with a sweet and mildly tart flavor. The zest has none of the tartness but a floral flavor that tastes like the orange blossom smells, mixed with a gentle bitterness. When using zest, one should be careful to only remove the orange skin and not the bitter, white pith underneath. Orange zest is used to flavor desserts, such as cake batters and can be used in sauces and some savory items.