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You can make this beautiful, delicately floral-scented rose water for cooking, beauty products and an infinite number of DIYs (heat and steam method).
How to Make Rosewater
Hi Everyone, have you ever wondered how to make rose water? Personally, I have always loved the scent in soaps and perfumes, and it's amazingly easy to make at home in your kitchen.
There are two ways to make rose water, the heat method (also called the simmer method) on the stove top and the steam method (also called the distill method) which can also be done on the stove top.
Uses for Rose Water
There are an infinite number of uses for rose water. You can use it in recipes wherever water is an ingredient which would instantly add a lovely, delicate rose-fragrance to any recipe. This would be perfect for drinks, cocktails or dessert.
Rose water is known as a mood enhancer, you can mist it on your bed linens before bed or add it to your bath water.
Heat Method Vs. Steam Method
The heat method makes rose water by simmering it over a heat source. You essentially make a rosewater "tea" and strain it through a filter or cheesecloth. The rose water comes out more colorful (as shown in the photos) and I found that you get a greater quantity faster. I would use the rose water from this method for using in recipes.
heat method
The steam method makes rose water by distillation (making it a hydrosol). It works also over a heat source and has a slightly more complex set up. You boil the rose petals and water and in a bowl (raised up above the liquid) you collect the rose water from the vapor of the roses and water. The vapor collects in the bowl when the steam hits the lid which is inverted, so that the droplets form and dip down into the bowl. It helps to put ice or ice packs on the top of the lid to get the droplets to form more effectively. The rose water is clear or nearly clear when using this method. It takes at least 30 minutes or longer to get a usable amount. It lasts up to 6 months when stored in a dark colored glass container with a lid. I would use the rose water from this method for beauty products since it lasts longer.
steam method
-high-quality, food grade, rose petals
-Ingredients for How to Make Rosewater
-1/4 cup edible (food grade) dried rose petals
-1 1/2 cups distilled water
Helpful Kitchen Tools for How to Make Rosewater (Heat Method)
-sauce pan (with lid)
-cheesecloth to strain or a paper filter (what I use)
-funnel
-a container or wet measure to collect the rose water as it's being filtered
-amber or cobalt blue glass spray bottles (16 ounce)
Helpful Kitchen Tools for How to Make Rosewater (Steam Method)
-lidded tall pot with a curved lid (it's great if it has a clear lid so you can see how the droplets are forming or if you need to switch out the ice)
-something to raise the bowl up from the water and rose petals, this could be a grate, a
-vegetable steamer (what I use with the middle unscrewed) or a small metal colander turned upside down
-a small metal bowl for collecting the rose water.
-ice
How to Make Rosewater
You can make this beautiful, delicately floral-scented rose water for cooking, beauty products and an infinite number of DIYs (heat and steam method).
Course: basic
Cuisine: American, International
Keyword: dried rose petals, rose petals, rose water
Prep Time: 1m
Cook Time: 10m
Total Time: 11m
Servings: 1
Author: Sara Maniez
heat (simmer) method
- 1/4 cup dried rose petals food grade
- 1.5 cups distilled water
steam (distill) method
- 1.5 cups dried rose petals
- 3-5 cups distilled water
Heat Method
1) Combine 1/4 cup dried rose petals with 1/5 cups distilled water in a small-medium saucepan.
2) Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the petals are nearly colorless. Remove from heat.
3) Put a funnel over a jar (if storing, use a dark colored glass jar with a lit/cap), place a cheesecloth or filter (I use a No. 4 coffee filter). Pour the rose water over the filter to separate out the rose petals.
Steam Method
1) In a tall, large pot, put dried rose petals and water in the bottom. Place a vegetable steamer with the center unscrewed (you can also use an upside down small colander, brick or something that's heat safe that will make a platform for the small metal bowl.
2) Place small metal bowl on top of the platform.
3) Place the lid concave so that the dome of the lid is pointing down, allowing the steam to collect and drip into the bowl. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or longer, depending on how much rose water you want, add water if the level gets low.
4) When the desired amount is distilled, place a funnel over a heat safe jar and using oven mitts, add the rose water to the jar. Allow the rose water to cool completely, you can use right away or store in a dark colored glass container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
