Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Indian Edible Perfume Help Needed

I hope this post isn't outside the terms of reference of FBS - almost all the posts I see are on technical and marketing issues and I wouldn't want to receive another caning from Headmistress Breach.

A Wall Street banker (!?!) has written to me asking if I can help him find a NY source for mitha ittar, which is an edible perfume something like kewra extract and a speciality of the Avadh region of northern India. I'm usually pretty good at web research these days, but although I've been able to find some recipes that use it and some references to it being worn as a male perfume at Eid, I can't get any further. Knowing that there are so many great Indian gastronomes as members and readers of FBS, I thought someone might be able to help me provide this chap with an answer to his search.

This Post was written by Trig from Aidan Brooks: Trainee Chef.
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19 comments:

  1. nikaTuesday, April 03, 2007 6:28:00 AM

    ANOTHER caning?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Scott at Real EpicureanTuesday, April 03, 2007 6:52:00 AM

    Trig,
    Try Kewra Essence. You can buy it (from a UK site) here:

    http://www.qualityspices.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/kundanfo/shopzone30.cgi/st_main.html?p_catid=34

    Hope this helps!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TrigTuesday, April 03, 2007 7:41:00 AM

    Thanks Scott, but it's not kewra which is made from the screwpine. It's a different perfumed spice. But I'll have a look at your site and maybe contact them to see if they know.

    ReplyDelete
  4. TrigTuesday, April 03, 2007 7:42:00 AM

    Nika - I've never been chastised by Sam for anything I didn't deserve. I was naughty recently, criticising another blogger, and had a smack on the back of my hand.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SamTuesday, April 03, 2007 8:04:00 AM

    sigh - the things you guys lead me to have to do 8P

    ReplyDelete
  6. AndrewTuesday, April 03, 2007 10:02:00 AM

    Hey, if anyones gonna get a whipping form the Headmistress it's gonna be me!!

    Join the queue

    ReplyDelete
  7. TrigTuesday, April 03, 2007 11:30:00 AM

    But you have to have Indian perfumed spice massaged into you before the whipping starts, Andrew. Now before you pass out as a result of excess fantasization, how about an answer to my question!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousTuesday, April 03, 2007 11:32:00 AM

    Sam: dang, they are lining up these days, impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MonicaWednesday, April 04, 2007 5:31:00 AM

    Also chek out these:
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    ReplyDelete
  10. SusanThursday, April 05, 2007 8:02:00 AM

    Dunno, but obviously "Monica" the spammer liked the references to whippings and massage oils. I suppose you can't say she wasn't on-topic. : )

    ReplyDelete
  11. TrigThursday, April 05, 2007 9:08:00 AM

    I knew I shouldn't have let this get out of hand. My poor chap in New York still hasn't got an answer. Nika - you started the trouble and you're closest to the Apple - any thoughts on ittr?

    ReplyDelete
  12. TrigThursday, April 05, 2007 9:10:00 AM

    Whoops, sorry. I see Susan is even closer. Come on then, what about my Indian spice?

    ReplyDelete
  13. SusanThursday, April 05, 2007 9:27:00 AM

    And don't think I haven't been quietly sleuthing since this first posted. Best I can make out (and this is hardly scientific) can go two ways: if it's culinary ittar (generic for essense, like an infusion/extract) then he can probably go to the Indian section of the city in Murray Hill (aka Curry Hill) and poke around the many Indian businesses there. Could be, though, he is Islamic and looking for spiritual ittar. If that's the case, he may still find it in Curry Hill, although more Indians are Hindu rather than Islamic. For the record, the reason why it's edible is that the proper distillation contains no chemicals, not even alcohol. This doesn't necessarily mean all flowers used in ittar are edible. If you need map coordinates for Curry Hill, will be happy to provide. I could send you an email, Trig, w/ more details on the area and ittar. I could expound on this even more, but I'm cluttering up the comment space enough.

    ReplyDelete
  14. TrigFriday, April 06, 2007 2:39:00 AM

    Susan, I love you. Thanks ever so much and have a great Easter holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  15. SusanFriday, April 06, 2007 5:06:00 AM

    Trig,
    Happy to help and happy Easter. I can't imagine what you will be preparing, assuming you are doing the cooking.

    ReplyDelete
  16. nikaFriday, April 06, 2007 7:38:00 AM

    uuuh, what susan said :-) I dont do perfumes or essences.. I get migraines from them so I dont know much about it all.

    I may be "close" to the apple (3 hours) but its still too far for shopping trips :-)

    Now if you need to know anything about Sturbridge or even Brimfield, I am your go-to maven.

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousSaturday, April 07, 2007 7:18:00 AM

    Here is a wild guess from a non-Indian, so take with a drop of mitha ittr. Mitha means sweet and ittr (also ittar or attar) means perfume, so mitha ittr could be any sweet smelling spice. A favorite dish in many Indian households is halwa, a sweet made from wheat semolina, butter, sugar and spices. In the Avadh region there is a special halwa made with germinated wheat extract, Samnak, which has a sweet smell. Maybe that is what your friend is referring to.

    ReplyDelete
  18. TrigTuesday, April 10, 2007 3:20:00 PM

    Thanks to you all for your suggestions. I think my reader has found his spice now.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousWednesday, June 12, 2013 3:08:00 AM

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    ReplyDelete

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