We’ve got another hot week in the books. I’ve been trying to get my gardening done, but when the temperatures are in the high 90’s, there’s only so much you can do. I’ve lost three small seedlings to the heat, but most of my plants are loving the weather. That includes my roses; they have been in full bloom for the last two weeks. I have three rose bushes: one yellow, one pink, and one red. The red roses are incredibly fragrant. And if you’ve got fragrant (organic) roses, you’ve got all you need to make rose water.

Early one morning, I cut three newly-bloomed red roses and got to work. This was my first time making rose water but it was pretty easy and I’m really happy with the results. As long as you have some pesticide-free rose petals (dried or fresh) you can make your own rose water. Some recommend using distilled water to make rose water; if you intend to store your rose water for an extended time it is necessary. However you can also use tap water (which is what I did). If you use tap water, store it in the fridge and use it within a few days, or store it in the freezer for later use. After you make the decision about your water, it’s pretty straight-forward from there.

1. Remove the petals and discard any overripe ones. The bottom of the petals have a bit of  a whitish-yellow tinge to them from where they connect to the reproductive part of the flower; cut that portion off. (It can cause rose water to be bitter.)
2. Add the rose petals to a saucepan and add just enough water to cover them.
3. Turn the heat on ever so slightly. You don’t want the water to boil; you are just steeping the petals.
4. After a few minutes the petals lose their color and you’re done! Remove the petals, let your rose water cool and it’s ready for use.

getting ready to make rose water

rose petals ready

rose petals steeping

ready to be taken off the heat

rose water yield from three roses

I got a pint of rose water from my three roses. I could have added a little less water and made the rose water stronger, but I liked how it turned out. I made a few drinks with my rose water and froze the rest in ice cube trays for later use.

I’m a huge fan of the drink I made. It was so refreshing. I got some sparkling lemonade from the store and mixed 1 part rose water and 2 parts sparkling lemonade. It will put you right where you need to be after a long, hot day.