Recipe for Rosewater

(Created by Lady Prudence the Curious – no related period recipe)

Equipment

Sink	Stove	Non-reactive pot (ceramic, glass, etc)
Pruning shears	Big Bowl	Stirring spoon
Funnel	Strainer	Container (non-reactive or plastic you don’t care will be rosy for the rest of its life)

Ingredients

Roses (home grown if possible) – 2 bowls worth
Water

Process

1. In morning before the heat: Cut a full bowl of rose blossoms – at least five or six
2. Clean roses gently
3. Remove the petals and place them in a non-reactive pot
4. Cover with water
5. Put pot over low heat and allow cook for 20-30 minutes – do not cover, let the steam out
6. Stir on occasion to bruise the petals so they release more oil
7. The roses should look white and the water a little pinkish, and you should have room for more
8. Go out and cut another bowl of roses
9. Clean, pluck and add these petals to the pot
10. These will go white a lot sooner – just another 15 minutes
11. When done, pull off heat and let cool

ADDITIONAL COOKING NOTES:

• Do not boil the water – if it starts to simmer, it’s okay to remove the pot from the heat
• You are looking for drops of rose oil on the surface of the water – too much heat and the oil will evaporate

12. Get the final container, funnel, and a strainer to fit the funnel. Pour the cooled liquid into the container, straining out the petals
13. Squeeze the petals to get all the liquid
14. Use as needed for rosewater.

Comments

1. After a heavy (2-day) rain, I made rosewater in the spring from my rose bushes. All foliage on the bushes is new since spring.
2. I chopped the used rose petals and added them to a Ramen Noodle dish – worked very well. The petals are edible and can add fiber/substance to soups.
3. The scent levels are no where near the levels found in store-bought rose water – but the color was much better. The scent did a slow permeation with any dish it was used in. Not noticeable at first, but over time – yes.
4. I used the rosewater for a whipped cream dish and for pancakes.

Pictures

Roses grown in my yard. I’ve been working on them for two years now.

I’ve cut off two big bowl for the rosewater and still have tons left.

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