CreativityDIYFood and RecipesSomewhat Foodie Related
How To Harvest And Dry Rose Petals and Rose Buds – DIY
Roses have forever been known for their ethereal beauty, And Drying roses, Roses Petals and Rose Buds , has been done since time immemorial. Allow me to once again refresh this ancient method for you, and show you how to go about To harvest and dry rose petals and rose buds, so you can always preserve their beauty.
IF, LIKE ME, YOU HAVE PRESSED A ROSE IN A BOOK, whilst growing up, THEN YOU HAVE ALREADY MASTERED ONE OF MANY WAYS OF DRYING ROSES;-) .
Roses have always been known to be edible. I remember my grandparents and parents, giving us a petal to chew on, and I prayed I wouldn’t get sick to my tummy eating a rose petal. Those generations of people AMAZE me, I call them THE “GOOGLE FREE GENERATION”, they had so much knowledge ABOUT LIFE AND FOOD, Knowledge we now take for granted, as all this information that we now have on our finger tips, is thanks to Google.
Roses have in recent years taken the culinary world by storm. There is always some kind of uses for dried roses, their rose petal and rose buds, that find their way into dishes. Dried roses are used to add a colourful appeal to a dish, or to impart it’s magnificent fragrance, to teas or sweet dishes. Lots of people still vouch on the dried rose petals/buds they purchase from international travels, which is especially common in the Middle Eastern regions, TODAY I SHOW YOU, that Dried Roses are just as EASY to make in the comfort of your own kitchen, provided you have a good few rose bushes that bloom.
For those that know me, Know of my LOVE AFFAIR with roses. And during my recent move, It broke my heart to leave behind my array of rosebushes, that were so lovingly planted for me by my hubby dearest. But, I consoled myself, with the thought that we can grow a few new rosebushes soon in our new garden to make new memories with, and the more established rosebushes I left behind, hopefully brings as much joy to their new owners, as it did us. So before we moved out, I did one more harvest of some of the roses, so I could dry them and bring along with me. Find below, my techniques for harvesting and drying rose petals and rose buds.
With the endless uses of rose in Culinary dishes, as well as in beauty and home deco, I Do hope you give my techniques a try soon. Look forward to hearing from you, so do drop me a comment or feedback on any of my social media platforms, if you try this.
Do Also remember to RATE THIS POST, THE RATING CARD CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS POST.
HAPPY ROSE DRYING LOVELIES 🌹
LOVE MARRIAM
AUTHOR: FOODEVA MARSAY
(@foodeva_marsay)
HARVESTING ROSE PETALS AND ROSE BUDS
(@foodeva_marsay)
~ ALWAYS Plan to harvest your roses, when they have just opened, or bloomed. This is when their fragrances are the strongest.
~ Harvest roses at MID-MORNING, after the dew has evaporated, and before the strongest mid-day sun rays reach them.
~ Choose rose blooms that are a bright pink or a deep mauve/maroon , these colours are most often used as dried edible roses in dishes.
~ IF YOU CHOOSE other colours, like yellow/peach/white roses, do remember that as they dry, they do lose their colour and may turn brownish. These colour roses, make for perfect potpourri though. These other colours are also fine if you plan to use them fresh as deco in culinary dishes, or added to your salads.
~ Gently dust roses, or wash them and dry well.
~ TO REMOVE PETALS, gently pluck the petals from the base of the rose.
~ Harvest Rose Buds that have only just opened slightly, but still holding a bud form, and not too young ones as they do shrink upon drying. Ensure you harvest the rosebuds by cutting it close to the calyx that ensures the bud is held in form.
DRYING ROSE PEATLS AND BUDS (@foodeva_marsay)
METHOD 1: AIR DRYING
~ After plucking the rose petals and buds, spread them out onto a meshed tray or your regular netted SIEVE. These allow for even distribution of air around each petal/bud.
~ Keep this mesh tray/sieve in an airy spot, but away from direct sunlight.
~ Gently toss about the rose petals and buds everyday, until dried through. This usually takes A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK, BUT TAKE NOTE, ROSE BUDS WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO DRY OUT WITH THIS TECHNIQUE.
~ Store in a clean glass jar, out of direct sunlight.
METHOD 2: USING A MICROWAVE
~ I do prefer this method, especially if I am in need of dried rose petals immediately.
~ Place the rose petals onto absorbent kitchen paper towels, in a single layer, then onto a microwave safe plate/saucer.
~ Using the lowest power setting on your microwave, heat the petals at short bursts of 10-20 seconds at a time, remove the paper towel, check if the petals are dry, turn them about, and re-heat again for 10-20 second bursts.
~ The petals should feel dry, but not too crisp.
~ Apply the same technique for rose buds, lay them out in a single layer, and heat on low at short intervals. Keep checking for dryness, as these may take a little longer to dry, compared to petals.
~ Store in a clean jar, away from direct sunlight.
~ Microwaving rose petals and rose buds, may result in losing some of it’s fragrance, but this can be rectified by applying a thin mist of edible rose extract or rose water, just before using.
METHOD 3: USING A DEHYDRATOR
~ Similar to a microwave, use the lowest setting for drying, and lay them out in a single layer. This method of drying may take a few hours or a day.
~ Store in a clean jar way from direct sunlight.
NOTES BY FOODEVA MARSAY
~ The very same techniques I have used above, for this edible dried rose petals and rose buds, can be used for non-edible versions as well.
~ For Potpourri – After drying, add in a few drops of essential oils that you enjoy. Gently toss the dried petals, allow for the oils to dry slightly and use them around your home. These are great to add to satin bags as well, and kept in your cupboards.
~ Rose Petals make for a gorgeous confetti, you can use them plucked fresh, OR dried. To dry follow any of the techniques above.
~ It is safest to use roses growing in your own gardens, as compared to the commercial varieties, unless you know for certain that those commercial variety are 100% organic.
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Here are just some posts that I have previously used dried/fresh Rose Petals and Rose Buds in. #Beinspired #foodevamarsay
Remember my Burfee Sojee?… You can find that recipe HERE…
And this Rose Infused Greek Yoghurt that I recently shared on my Instagram and Facebook platforms….
