Orgeat substitutes
Orgeat substitutes — 7 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Also called orgeat syrup, French almond syrup, sirop d'orgeat, orzata
Use Almond syrup
1 oz for every 1 oz orgeat
Use almond syrup, the kind sold for coffee, 1 ounce for every 1 ounce of orgeat. It has the same sweetness and almond flavor but is clear and thinner, with no floral note, so add 1 or 2 drops of orange flower water per drink if you have it. With no almond syrup, stir ½ teaspoon of almond extract into 1 cup of simple syrup and use that the same way. Amaretto also works in a Mai Tai, but it adds alcohol and is less sweet.
- Verdict —
- Works
- The tweak —
- Add 1 or 2 drops of orange flower water per drink, if you have it, for the floral note.
- Best for —
- Mai Tais and other tiki drinks
Updated 8 Oct 2026 · no sponsored swaps
But first: what’s the orgeat doing?
Pick your caseWhat is the orgeat going into?
Use almond syrup at the same amount, usually ¼ to ½ ounce per drink. Almond milk orgeat gives the cloudy look. Amaretto works too and makes the drink stronger and less sweet.
Notes on almond syrup, almond milk orgeat or amaretto
1 oz per 1 oz
Use almond syrup, or simple syrup with almond extract, at the same amount. Skip amaretto and the liqueur kind of falernum.
Notes on almond syrup or simple syrup + almond extract
1 oz per 1 oz
Make it. Stir ½ teaspoon almond extract into 1 cup of simple syrup, or warm 1 cup almond milk with 1 cup sugar until dissolved. Both pour like orgeat.
Notes on simple syrup + almond extract or almond milk orgeat
1 oz per 1 oz
Leave the almond out. Use simple syrup with 2 drops of orange flower water per ounce. The drink stays balanced but is no longer almond-flavored.
Notes on simple syrup + orange flower water
1 oz per 1 oz
Orgeat is the sweetener in the drink and the source of its almond flavor. In a Mai Tai it balances the lime juice the way simple syrup would, and it adds a nutty, floral taste and a faint creaminess from the almond solids that make it cloudy. A substitute has to be sweet first; the almond comes second and the body third.
Every option, one card
Ranked · per 1 oz orgeat| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 oz orgeat | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Almond syrupMai Tais and other tiki drinks | 1 ozWorks | Works |
| 2 | Simple syrup + almond extractMai Tais when there is nothing else | 1 ozTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Almond milk orgeatMai Tais and tiki drinks | 1 ozTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | AmarettoMai Tais | 1 ozYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 5 | Falernumtiki drinks | 1 ozYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 6 | Hazelnut or macadamia syrupcoffee drinks | 1 ozYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 7 | Simple syrup + orange flower waterdrinks for guests who avoid nuts | 1 ozYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| Not a swap | Almond milk alone | not a swapNot for this | Not for this |
| Not a swap | Almond extract alone | not a swapNot for this | Not for this |
Almond syrup
same, less floral
The clear almond-flavored syrup sold for coffee and Italian sodas. Some brands label it as almond or orgeat, and it is made for the same job.
- Best for
- Mai Tais and other tiki drinks, coffee and lattes, Italian sodas, mocktails
- Texture
- thinner, clear
- Prep
- Add 1 or 2 drops of orange flower water per drink, if you have it, for the floral note.
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
It is clear and thinner than a true orgeat made from almonds, so the drink is less cloudy and has a little less body. The flavor comes from almond flavoring, which reads slightly more like marzipan.
Simple syrup + almond extract
sharper almond, no floral
The pantry version: sugar syrup flavored with almond extract. It replaces the sweetness and the almond in the drink.
- Best for
- Mai Tais when there is nothing else, coffee, mocktails
- Texture
- thin, clear
- Prep
- Stir ½ teaspoon almond extract into 1 cup of cooled simple syrup made from equal parts sugar and water. Taste and add more extract a few drops at a time.
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
Almond extract is strong and turns bitter if overdone, so start low. The syrup is clear and thin and has none of the creamy body. A few drops of orange flower water in the batch brings it closer. Keeps about a month in the refrigerator.
Almond milk orgeat
close, milder almond
A quick homemade orgeat: unsweetened almond milk and sugar warmed together until the sugar dissolves. It is cloudy and has body, like the real syrup.
- Best for
- Mai Tais and tiki drinks, making a batch for a party, coffee
- Texture
- same, cloudy
- Prep
- Warm 1 cup unsweetened almond milk with 1 cup sugar over low heat, stirring, just until dissolved; do not boil. Cool, then add ¼ teaspoon almond extract and a few drops of orange flower water.
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
- Contains
- tree nuts
This is the closest in look and feel of anything made at home. It separates as it sits, so shake it before pouring, and use it within about 2 weeks, kept in the refrigerator.
Amaretto
almond, less sweet, boozy
An almond-flavored liqueur. It gives the almond note and some sweetness, with alcohol the syrup does not have.
- Best for
- Mai Tais, spirit-forward cocktails, drizzling over desserts
- Texture
- thinner
- Prep
- Use the same amount and taste the drink. If it is too tart, add ¼ ounce of simple syrup.
- Suits
- vegetarian
- Contains
- alcohol
Amaretto is 21 to 28 percent alcohol and less sweet than orgeat, so the drink comes out stronger, drier and amber instead of cloudy. Not for mocktails or for anyone avoiding alcohol.
Falernum
spiced, lime, less almond · similar texture
A Caribbean syrup or low-proof liqueur flavored with lime, ginger, clove and almond. It sits next to orgeat in many tiki recipes.
- Best for
- tiki drinks, rum punches, rum sours
- Pantry
- Special trip
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian
The almond is in the background; lime and spice come first. The drink will taste spicier and less nutty. The liqueur versions are about 11 percent alcohol.
Hazelnut or macadamia syrup
nutty, not almond
Another nut-flavored coffee syrup. Same sweetness and body, a different nut.
- Best for
- coffee drinks, tiki drinks with dark rum, mocktails
- Texture
- same as almond syrup
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
Hazelnut is toastier and reads like coffee-shop flavoring; macadamia is rounder and closer. Either makes a good drink that is not quite a Mai Tai.
Simple syrup + orange flower water
sweet and floral, no almond
Sweetness and the floral note with no nut at all, for when almond is not an option.
- Best for
- drinks for guests who avoid nuts, mocktails, balancing a sour drink
- Texture
- thin, clear
- Prep
- Add 2 drops of orange flower water for each ounce of simple syrup. More than that tastes like perfume.
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
It keeps the drink balanced, sweet against sour, but the almond flavor is gone. Plain simple syrup alone does the same job with even less character.
Almond milk alone
not sweet
Pouring almond milk in place of the syrup.
- Best for
- nothing in place of orgeat
- Texture
- watery
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
Orgeat is a sweetener first. Unsweetened almond milk has almost no sugar and very little almond flavor, so the drink comes out sour, watery and cloudy. Cook it with an equal volume of sugar and it becomes a workable orgeat.
Almond extract alone
bitter, not sweet
A dash of extract straight into the shaker.
- Best for
- nothing in place of orgeat
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
Extract has flavor but no sugar and no volume, so the drink loses the sweetness that balances the lime. It is also strong enough that a small overpour makes the whole drink bitter. Mix it into simple syrup first.
Don’t swap it here
2 cases- SafetyServing someone with a tree nut allergy any almond-based option on this page.Use simple syrup with orange flower water, and read every label.
- Replacing orgeat with an unsweetened ingredient, such as almond milk or extract, in a sour drink.Use any sweet syrup at the same amount, even plain simple syrup.
Questions
6 questionsWhat can I use instead of orgeat in a Mai Tai?
Almond syrup at the same amount is the closest. If you have none, mix ½ teaspoon of almond extract into 1 cup of simple syrup and use that. Amaretto also works, ounce for ounce; it makes the drink a little stronger and less sweet.
Is orgeat the same as almond syrup?
Nearly. Traditional orgeat is made from real almonds, which makes it cloudy, and it has a little orange flower water. Clear almond syrups sold for coffee are flavored sugar syrups. They swap in equal amounts; the coffee syrup is thinner and less floral.
Can I use amaretto instead of orgeat?
Yes, in cocktails. Use the same amount and expect a stronger, drier drink, since amaretto is 21 to 28 percent alcohol and less sweet than syrup. Add ¼ ounce of simple syrup if the drink tastes too tart. It is not a swap for alcohol-free drinks.
How do I make orgeat at home quickly?
Warm 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk with 1 cup of sugar over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, without boiling. Cool it, then stir in ¼ teaspoon of almond extract and a few drops of orange flower water. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to about 2 weeks.
Does orgeat have alcohol?
Most bottled orgeat has none. Some craft brands and homemade recipes add a small amount of spirit as a preservative, so check the label if it matters.
How do you pronounce orgeat?
Most bartenders say or-ZHAT, with a soft zh like the s in measure. Or-ZHA, in the French manner, is also common.
Tips for substituting orgeat
5 tips- A Mai Tai uses only ¼ to ½ ounce of orgeat. At that amount, almond syrup or a homemade version is hard to tell from the real thing once the rum and lime are in.
- Measure almond extract by the drop when working with a single drink: 2 to 3 drops per ½ ounce of simple syrup is a starting point. For a batch, ½ teaspoon per cup of syrup.
- Orange flower water is strong. Use 1 or 2 drops per drink, or about ¼ teaspoon per cup of syrup.
- Keep homemade orgeat in the refrigerator and shake before pouring. The almond milk version lasts about 2 weeks; a tablespoon of vodka stirred into the bottle helps it keep.
- When using amaretto in place of orgeat, taste before adding any other sweetener. It is less sweet than syrup, so some drinks need ¼ ounce of simple syrup to come back into balance.