Despite their greenish-grey cardboard looking appearance, the bitter orange peel from the LHBS is a critical ingredient in a world-class, traditional Witbier. I
love Witbier.
To clarify a few points:
(1) the bitter orange does not provide orange flavor or aroma. It is there to bitter, as Witbiers have very little by way of hops.
(2) The citrus notes in a Wit come from the coriander
(3) The herbal notes come from the peel.
Invariably, recipes that use fresh zest in lieu of the bitter peel call for an addition of chamomile to replace the missing herbal notes.
How's that for a mind-bender?