Rose petals are deliciously fragrant, carry delicate flavours and have been used in cooking for hundreds of years.
Dried and folded through muesli, sprinkled in smoothies, candied and adorned on cakes, seeped into teas and water, featuring in jams, cocktails and flavoured sugar too, roses are not new to the culinary world.
Rose hips are often used, as too the leaves, and rose petals are most commonly associated with Middle Eastern dishes such as the popular Turkish Delight.
I love the concept of candied petals, popular in Victorian times with cake decorating, but wanted to make something a little more practical. I decided to make infused rose sugar.
What do you use Rose Sugar for?
I can’t wait to sprinkle it on shortbread and tea cakes; and add to homemade lemonade, jellies and anything that could benefit from the aromatic sweet rose. Sugar doesn’t colourise during this process but it certainly takes in the rose petal oil for a delicious flavour and smell.
How to make Rose Sugar
The process is terribly easy. My roses are grown organically with no chance of drifting pesticides from the roadside, so using their petals are deemed safe. If you do not grow your own roses, be sure not to use flowers from a florist, garden centre or road side as they may have been sprayed with pesticide. Know your source!
- Remove petals from the rose, ensuring they are free from ants and any other visiting insects. Give them a quick bath in cold water and allow to dry thoroughly on a paper towel. You may wish to snip the white ends of the petal (although I didn’t).
- Prepare a dry, clean, dust free, air tight container with a secure lid.
- Layer white sugar in the base of the jar, then a single layer of rose petals. Repeat several times. Screw the lid on tight.
- Leave in a dark room or pantry for two weeks. Every few days shake the jar to distribute the rose essence and sugar within the jar.
- After two weeks the rose petals will turn brown. Remove the petals and seal the jar until you are ready to use the sugar.
- Enjoy!
What does Rose Sugar taste like?
The scent is amazing when you open the lid to the jar, and the sugar is subtly flavoured but most definitely with rose essence!
