Orange Tarragon Spice 101

Welcome to May! We’re right around the corner from fresh, garden-grown produce and farmers market finds. Orange Tarragon, a French-inspired blend perfect for the season.

Tarragon has a long history in French cuisine. Thought to be native to Central Asia, the herb likely made its way to Europe through early trade routes. Its green and anise-like flavor became synonymous with French cooking during the 18th century and has come to represent elegance, refinement, and balance. Our Orange Tarragon pairs tarragon's herbaceous, aromatic sweetness with the orange peel's brightness, adding the classic French flavors of shallots, chives, garlic, and black pepper.

Butter Up

As with all things French, Orange Tarragon pairs exceptionally well with butter. We love using it to make compound butter either by simply mixing a tablespoon of ground spice with a stick of softened butter or getting extra fancy with this recipe.

Dollop your compound butter on fish, green beans, asparagus, and peas; add it to broth for steamers like clams and mussels; toss with fresh pasta dishes; or give some French flair to baked russets or roasted new potatoes. 

Try this recipe for halibut cooked in the French "en papillote" (in parchment) style using Orange Tarragon compound butter.

Try It, You'll Like It

Easy ways to incorporate Orange Tarragon into your cooking.

Worth the Squeeze: Mix Orange Tarragon with lemon or orange juice, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt for an excellent marinade or vinaigrette. If you’re making a marinade, a splash of white wine really brings out the flavors.

Shake It Up: Coat chicken breasts, slab-cut zucchini, or asparagus with a splash of oil and a shake of Orange Tarragon and toss them on the grill. 

Snack Time: Mix a teaspoon of Orange Tarragon into ⅓ cup of cottage cheese and spread on toast for a mid-afternoon snack.