The scent of spices in the air makes wintertime cozy indoors. Tiny oranges and tangerines are in season, just the right size for little hands and small attention spans. These orange pomadors will keep kids of all ages busy and can be used as tree decorations, closet hangers, or even as mulled wine or apple cider spice balls.
Materials:
Ripe oranges or tangerines
Cloves 丁香 ding xiang (available at local markets at stores selling grains and spices)
Cheesecloth 轻薄棉布 (available at fabric stores)
Ribbon or string
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time: 20-30 minutes
Directions:
1. Beginning at the base of the orange or tangerine, pierce the peel with a clove.
2. As you continue to pierce the skin of the orange with cloves, make a circular pattern – be careful not to insert them too close to each other or the orange skin will fall apart. As the orange dries out, the skin will shrink and the cloves will naturally move closer together. Continue until you have covered the orange with cloves.
3. Cut a square piece of cheesecloth, big enough to loosely wrap the orange.
4. Using a ribbon, tie up the cheesecloth. Cut away the excess cheesecloth.
5. Place the orange pomador in a windowsill or outdoors to let the sun and air dry it out. It should be sufficiently dried out in two weeks or so. Hang the pomador from doorknobs, Christmas trees, or in closets to keep moths away.
