All About Orris: Harvest in Tuscany
June 03, 2011
In Tuscany on a botanical trip with Bombay Sapphire, we learned how the orris root is grown and processed to use in the gin.
Orris root is the rhizome of the Iris flower. Here in Tuscany they are grown on sloping hills between rows of olive trees. Nice space.
These iris flowers are not grown for their beauty, unlike other iris varieties, but for the quality of their rhizomes.
The rhizomes are bulbs on the base of the plants. Skinny roots shoot off the rhizomes. These are cut off.
The plant tops, with a tiny portion of the rhizome attached, are replanted.
The orris is then hand peeled.
Then it is left out to dry in the sun.
Later it is aged. The floral aspect comes out only after this, when it is extracted into gin or perfume.
How long do they age it?
Posted by: Brant | June 03, 2011 at 09:24 AM
I seem to recall them saying either one or two years but I can't find this in my notes. I think I'll ask the botanical master to find out...
Posted by: Camper English | June 03, 2011 at 09:45 AM
I seem to recall reading 3 years somewhere, which blew my mind. A quick google yields http://aromax-on-line.blogspot.com/2010/01/orris-root-origin.html which claims 3 years of plant growth to harvest and 3 more years of root aging. I have a ton of iris growing at my house, but 3 years is crazy-talk.
Posted by: sylvan | June 03, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Yes it's definitely 3 years to grow (at least in Tuscany) before harvest. Then you dry it, then it ages. I emailed the botanical dude to see what he says.
Posted by: Camper English | June 03, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Camper,
Was there any discussion about the variety of iris that they were using? Does nearly any iris root end up giving similar flavor after processing? Do you know if a slightly-crazy, home-infuser/gardener with irises could reproduce this?
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnRIoMWYWry_8gntc1JNCUQB4rIvZkxwAo | June 03, 2011 at 02:34 PM
We did not discuss the name of the variety used. However, they did say that these are not the same variety (it's apparently a large family) that are grown for durability and beauty. These were rather fragile flowers, and grown specifically for the orris rather than the iris.
Posted by: Camper English | June 03, 2011 at 02:40 PM
I asked the Master of Botanicals and he says, "For Bombay, due to the rotation of the season and the stocks we are using the rhizomes after 6-8 months. In general for other usage [people] age from one year to a maximum of three."
Posted by: Camper English | June 04, 2011 at 09:26 AM
Hi
I live in Dordogne and we have hundreds of juniper bushes , we are looking to create a smallholding with various uses of the land , one idea is to harvest , sell on juniper berries , any contacts/links/advice you could give would be appreciated..
cheers Ecosse man in France
Posted by: keith | July 21, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Keith - I don't have any good contacts for this but maybe someone will see this posting. Good luck...
Posted by: Camper English | July 25, 2011 at 09:48 PM
Would you know (other than liquer flavoring) Tuscans using Orris for any dishes? The Morrocan spice mix is the only thing I could find that uses it.
Posted by: Levi | February 26, 2013 at 01:04 PM
I don't know, sorry.
Posted by: Camper English | February 26, 2013 at 01:18 PM
Were can you buy aged 3 year Italian orris root.
Posted by: tyson | August 13, 2016 at 09:54 AM
Hi Camper
Super interesting - do they harvest in early June afer the first flowering? or through out the summer?
I would be interested to know
cheers
Posted by: marie gunderson-briggs | February 07, 2018 at 02:08 PM
I'm afraid I don't know.
Posted by: Camper English | February 08, 2018 at 06:28 AM
Who wouldn’t love to be in an Tuscany olive grove underplanted with Orris (Iris pallida) . I hope the ancient olives are surviving.
Posted by: christina | June 03, 2020 at 11:48 PM