A favorite of ornamental gardeners everywhere, there are more than 10,000 cultivated varieties of roses and as many as 5,000 different species. Native to the Middle East, the rose now grows all over the world, and has a long and colorful history, dating back to ancient Sumeria. Poets and writers extol the virtues of this beautiful fragrant flower. You may not know that parts of it are also edible.
Roses
Roses vary in color and in fragrance, and the petals of the older rose varieties may have the most flavor, according to the Iowa State University Extension office. Roses thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Use only organic fertilizers and pest control if you grow roses for culinary purposes.
Harvesting
The best time to harvest roses is in the morning. Wait until the dew evaporates and select flowers near the peak of their bloom. Cut the rose stem with sharp garden shears, and place the stems in water until you're ready to use them. Alternately, you can dry the roses by gathering them before sunrise and hanging them upside-down to dry in a well-ventilated, dark spot.
Culinary Uses
Before preparing roses for eating, wash the petals carefully in cool water. Pull or cut off and discard the white bottom section, which is bitter to the taste. Use rose petals in salads or add them to clear jellies for flavor, aroma and color. Prepare rose syrup using the petals, the rose hips, or a combination of them by mixing water and the rose parts in a saucepan and adding sugar or honey until it reaches the desired sweetness. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until the sugar completely dissolves. Strain and store in the refrigerator to use as a flavoring for sparkling water or as a topping on ice cream.
Herbal Tea
Prepare herbal rose tea by pouring one cup of boiling water over 2 tsp. of dried rose petals and steep for 5 minutes before straining. You may also use rose hips to make an herbal tea. Sweeten with honey, if desired. Serve hot or cold.
Precautions
Wear gloves to prevent pricks from thorns when cutting roses and when handling the stems. Avoid using roses treated with chemicals or those growing near roads where dust and exhaust from cars may contaminate the blooms. If you are allergic to roses, do not consume products that contain the petals or the rose hips.
References
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 2"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- "Edible Flowers"; Iowa State University Extension Office, November 2005
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