Pound the almonds in a mortar with the sugar, and add the water a little by degrees; then put the mixture on the fire with the lemon-peel.

The orgeat is used as a summer drink, mixed with water, according to taste.Bitter almonds as a general rule contain cyanide and can be lethal in large quantities.

Such syrup products do not contain significant levels of hydrocyanic acid, so are generally considered safe for human consumption unless the person is allergic.

In Tunisia and Libya, a variant is called rozata and is usually served chilled in wedding and engagement parties as a symbol of joy and purity because of its white colour and its fresh (flowery) flavor.

In Suriname, there is a drink called orgeade, which is a similar syrup made of sugar and sweet and bitter almonds.