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Rose :: Herb of the Month
February 14, 2010
ROSE [Rosa]
One of the world’s most beautiful and fragrant flowers, the rose, symbolizes beauty, love, passion, warmth of personality, and compassion. It is a flower one give as a token of their sentiment but you can also use a light kiss of rose to infuse its floral flavor in recipes.
Rose has been used extensively in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines and its use in cooking dates back centuries, and it has been adopted by fine pastry chefs and chocolatiers as well for quite some time used to enhance the taste of foods and beverages. I always have culinary rose on hand, especially rose water, to flavor and adorn foods.
Edible Rose
also known as rose haw, are the seed bearing fruit of the rose plant.
It is a natural source of vitamin C, tannins, pectins, and carotene (carotenoids), that helps boost the immune system to prevent illness.
A cup of rose tea can offers a helpful and healthy does of natural medicine. Here’s a list of its benefits [Source :: Health Mad]
Because of the medicinal properties of rose, it is widely used in Ayurveda medicine. One cup of fresh rose hips has the equivalent amount of vitamin C in 60 oranges. Rose tea (tea made with rose petals and hips) is not a new idea. Here are 10 extraordinary health benefits of rose tea.
Why roses are considered an ideal gift to express love? There is an interesting reason for this. Roses soothe heart and emotions. They also balance the mind.
The reasons for the diuretic effects of the roses are they contain Vitamin C, pectin, malic and citric acids.
1. It clears toxins and heat from the body. As a result it has a cooling effect on the body.
2. It can relieve from sore throat, runny nose and blocked bronchial tubes
3. It is useful to people those prone to chest problems by fighting against infections
4. Rose tea helps to fight the infection in the digestive tract and re-establish the normal bacterial population of the intestines
5. It relieves fluid retention and hastens the elimination of wastes through kidneys
6. It is a wonderful remedy for dysentery, diarrhea and gastro enteritis
7. It is a laxative. It works as a remedy for all liver problems including sluggishness and constipation.
8. It cleanses the liver and gall bladder and promotes bile flow
9. Rose petal tea can be used to relieve uterine congestion causing pain and heavy periods. It is an excellent remedy for irregular periods and infertility.
10. It has an uplifting effect on the nervous system and can relieve insomnia, depression and fatigue.
Before using rose petals, be certain they are suitable to put in your recipes. There are many reputable sources that carry certified organic rose petal for culinary use. Where ever you purchase your edible rose products look for certified organic products that are grown, harvested and processed without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, GMO’s, synthetic chemicals, growth agents, and free from irradiation and chemical sterilization. That said you can readily find rose products a specialty shops, gourmet markets and online.
The petals look make a beautiful presentation when used to adorn a dish.
A fragrant water made from distilled water and rose petals used to add an exotic taste to drink, smoothie, and other recipes. Be sure to use a light hand otherwise it can overpower your recipe. Online you can purchase rose water at Dayna’s Market.
Rose is wonderful in sweet dishes. Here is one my recipes Raspberry Tarts.
Rose To Giveaway
Leaving a comment, or answering one or both of the questions below enters you in the drawing.
At the end of this month, one of your names will be drawn from the comment section of this post. Our sponsor Mountain Rose Herbs will send a gift of rose products to the winning participant. Also, I will draw from the comments and send a bottle of rose water to one participant.
Best of luck, Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
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43 Comments so far
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Herb of the Month
Red Clover our featured spice for April. We'll highlight its benefits, showcase it in raw vegan recipes, and at the end of the month a reader's name will be drawn from the comments, and our sponsor
will send that person products featuring red clover. Thank you for participating!
[...] Rose :: Herb of the Month [...]
LOVE using rose water and rose petals in desserts, salads, etc. My 1st introduction to rose as a flavoring was with Turkish Delight many years ago. I used rose water the other day when making raw vegan chocolate truffles!
I love the taste of Rose Water! When we lived in Malaysia… the locals would serve it at weddings, birthdays or other special occasions… but for sure they added alot of sugar water with it too!
Love the flavor of rose in foods. First started using it several years ago while teaching myself to cook indian food. Thanks for the opportunity.
The flavor of rose water..the fragrance, the texture of rose petals all a delight to the senses
I like to use rose in homemade spa products for summer solstice and February rituals. I also like them in white tea and desserts.
I love using rose hips in tea, and rose water in special desserts like panna cotta!
I have never used rose in foods but my fondest memories of rose is of my mother because she used a perfume that smelled like rose…..I do not know what the brand was but I now use rose essential oil when I can afford it in honor of my mother ….. I also just love the way it smells ……
I have actually never used rose water before but have always wanted to try. I think it would be delightful in desserts or in tea.
I really enjoy your blog. To answer your questions, I have not used any rose products in recipes yet. I have made rosehip tea. I have yet to find a good rose water or petals. I would use the petals as decoration around a chocolate dessert or the raw tiramisu and would use the rose water in a pudding. I would love to try is as a kefir, or in an icing.
Thanks
I haven’t had much experience using rose, but now I’m really eager to try! The most I have is a Vitamin C supplement with Rose Hips. I’d love to expand my horizons a bit!
I absolutely love roses in every shape and form and try to use them in all the diverse ways that they are available. They satisfy all the senses and on top are incredibly nutritious for our bodies, what more can one ask for from a flower? Roses rock and that’s all there is to it!
I love the idea of rose tea, especially as an attractive iced beverage on hot summer days.
My boyfriend says I am like a pink rose. We have been together for 15 years and this is truly the sweetest thing he has ever said to me. I look forward to learning how to use roses in ways I had not imagined.
Great ideas, have never used roses for cooking but do love them and have in my yard and have saved the petals for many years, love the smell. I read that roses are helpful for liver and gallbladder problems and have a friend with gallstones. Anyone out there know if rose therapy will help to dissolve gallstones? Thank you for your service.
Growing up, one of my favorite treats was rose flavored Loukoum (turkish delight). This is just a divine treat that sends me back to my childhood. I recently bought a rose water mister to refresh my face (from the health food store) and with each spray, I am transported back to childhood. It always amazes me how memories are so closely linked with the senses of taste and smell. andra
it is said “the Earth laughs in flowers” (one of my fave quotes, Ralph Waldo Emerson), so true!and i believe the Earth loves in Roses! the rose and the thorn, what a perfect picture of this less-than-perfect world…your article on roses and petals is excellent…the white and red rose are the eternal symbols of divine and earthly love~ Yours,Louise Heath, Waterlillies
Rose offers some great benefits, that I was not aware of.
I have never use rose hips/water in any recipes, but I do use skin care products with this oil and herb in it. It smells so good!
You have beautiful photos, that makes me want to run out and buy some roses. lol
Take care!
Wow, interesting to hear that they are helpful for the liver and gall bladder! I am definitely going to consider how to use more rose in my food/drinks! For now, my favorite way to use them is toss rose petals in salads. So pretty and fragrant, makes any salad feel gourmet. Big red/pink ones make quite a statement but even small yellow ones from my backyard’s miniature roses scatter nicely and quickly into or over a salad.
I use rose water in raw pie crust or truffles. A nice way to spice up dates is to rub them slightly with either orange blossom or rose water…just add a walnut in the middle and voila…an excellent dessert.
I love roses in food! I drink rose tea, sometimes mixed with other flowers for a delicious non-caffeinated beverage. I also love rose water, it’s great on fruit salads or with ice cream along with dried cherries, yum!!! It also makes a soothing tonic to srpay rose water on your skin or mix rose oil with almond oil for a totally natural skin smoother.
Rose – flower of the Blessed Mother. Frequency most like that of humans but because of it’s association with the Virgin is uplighting and hopeful. Even in their dying, they give off an astounding perfume as their last rememberance. Love
Your post reminds me I have some rose bud tea at home I should brew up. I got it from a local Chinese tea place that offers some of the most amazing teas one could find. Hubby and I love to sit there and have them serve us a variety of teas. It’s how I discovered the rose bud tea. It’s just simply rose buds. Fragrant and delicious.
i use rosewater everyday in facial spray along with tangerine oil and rose otto oil and 5 drops of calendula tincture. i make sure to take a nice long whiff too to spark the heart and increase serentity. i also use it in my raw chocolates along with mesquite powder and a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar to balance the sweetness. i have about 5 extra bottles in my pantry, just to be sure i never run out :)
I like to use a few drops of rosewater to raw almond milk especially when eating Indian foods. It really adds an extra dimension to the flavor. Love the info above about rosehips. Going to give some to my sister who has fluid retention problems as well as bronchial. May do the trick. :)
Rose water and rose petals make a great filling for raw chocolates. Then again, what doesn’t go well with raw cacao?
I’m totally enjoying the various suggestions for using rose products. I’ve never used it myself, but am planning on trying pastries and rose creme brulee.
I can smell the Roses. Hope I win
I think Valentimes should be everyday and buying your products is a very good way to celebrate each day with your loved one.
I haven’t had the opportunity of trying rose products before, but I would love to try it. The fragrance of roses is so elegant and delicate that I imagine the flavor would be wonderful in foods.
Rosewater with a little witch hazel added makes a nice facial toner.
I have only cosumed rose water in lemonade, which is very good. I use rose water a couple times a week to wash my face. It does amazing things for the skin. I also use rose essential oil daily in my work as a massage therapist. It always suprises me how people are turned off to the idea of rose because they only know the synthetic aroma. Real rose is so different and pretty much universally liked.
I love rose water. I first had a taste of it when I moved to NYC and ever since I would go to the little India section in Manhattan to buy rose water. I would make rose water lemonade as well as add it to regular water for a bit of flavor. I’d also use it on my skin as an astringent. I love the fragrance.
I use rose petals in my bath, but I haven’t tried them in recipes.
I have only ever used the flowers on the top of cakes for decoration and have put a few petals in my tea.
I love to make rose petal tea. Thanks.
I love to add rose water to my facial masks.
I have never used roses before but would love to since I love looking and smelling them – nice to know they can be good for you too!
Thanks
This is the first time I have heard about using rose petals, hips or water in recipes. I have heard about using them in cosmetics. The idea sounds interesting.
I mainly use rose petals as decorations on cakes.
Haven’t tried it yet, but would love to. I have a recipe for rose hip jam that I’ve been anxious to try. If I had to pick a favorite flower (and it would be tough), it would probably be roses.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Congratulations Andra!!! Rose products from Mountain Rose Herbs are on their way to you. Here is what Andra wrote:
I hope you enjoy using rose in recipes. Thank you to everyone who participated in the drawing. :-)
Cardamom is March featured herb of the month.
Rose is always considered as a herb. It is used in many dishes and cuisines of Asia. Rose is also good for beautiful skin.