The other day I saw this blog post, and my interest in rosewater and various botanical hydrosols was rekindled!
So I thought I would share how to make your own rosewater, or rose hydrosol.
You can make rosewater very easily by simply adding rose petals to water, boil and let simmer until the rose petals have lost their colour. The water will become pink. Simply strain and bottle, and all done. However, the shelf life isn’t too long. If you make a hydrosol, it will last longer!
As you can see above you need:
Dried or fresh rose petals - try to find organic ones
Distilled water
Ice
Large stock pot with lid
Heavy heat proof bowl
Metal bowl or a heat safe glass bowl
Dark bottle for storage
How to make it
Place the heavy heat proof bowl upside down in the centre of the stock pot.
Put the other bowl the right way up on top of this
Measure out about 4 dl of dried rose petals into the stock pot. They need to be around the upside down bowl and under the the bottom of the bowl on top.
Pour your distilled water into the pot, so it almost reaches the top of the upside down bowl (or the bottom rather!)
Now, invert the lid of the stock pot and put it on. This will make sure that the steam is collected and then drips into the top bowl!
You can use ice on the inverted lid to make sure that the steam condenses quicker and drops into the bowl below. It’s also good to put something heavy on the inverted lid because you want to keep in the steam, since this is the actual hydrosol.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest setting you have that will still allow it to simmer.
Simmer for at least 30 minutes, replacing the ice as needed.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Carefully remove the inverted lid
Pour your snazzy hydrosol into a bottle and use! It lasts for about 6 months.
Cool, huh? Now, the even cooler bit, is that you can make any botanical hydrosols this way. In the spring I am planning to make some nettle hydrosol, for example. But you can make lavender, orange blossom, rosemary - anything you fancy. Let me know if you make some! I’d love to know what you think =)
