A pomander is basically an old-fashioned version of those dangly pine trees you put in the car, but made from an orange. It’s an interesting way of seeing how spices were used for different things in the past; in the case of the pomander, the spices being cinnamon powder, cloves and orris root powder. Here the orris root is used as a fixative and preservative, a sort of medieval superglue to help the aromatic cinnamon and cloves stick to the orange, and to prevent the orange rotting. The end result is a ball bang full of the wonderful scent of Christmas! Making pomander is a great way to get the kids involved too – it’s easy, not too messy and the results of their work will hang in the house for some time to come.
(per individual pomander, multiply as necessary)
01.
Ingredients
1 medium or large orange
About 25g whole cloves
1 teaspoon of orris root powder
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
A length of ribbon and a similar length of tape
A few pins and a cocktail stick
A paper bag or tissue paper
02.
Method
- Gently knead the orange in your hands to soften the skin. Use the tape to divide the surface of the the orange into four equal parts and pin the tape in place. Later, the ribbon will go where you have put the tape.
- Pierce the skin of the orange with the cocktail stick and set in the cloves, either in a pattern or to completely cover the orange. Mix the orris root powder and ground cinnamon and put in a paper bag or on a sheet of greaseproof paper. Roll the orange in these spices.
- Wrap the orange in tissue paper or leave in the paper bag and store for a few days in a dry, warm place. An airing cupboard is ideal. Leave until the skin under the tape is dry. When dry, remove the tape and decorate with the ribbon and with a bow.
