flower power (floral water)

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I recently had some home-made lemonade, made with rose water, and I want to try and make it myself. Unfortunately, the stuff costs four quid for a tiny bottle at Waitrose, and as I've got a garden full of flowers, I figure I could do this myself.

Has anyone else tried to make their own rose-water? I presume you just put the petals in and simmer? What concentrations, though? Do you use any sugar or anything?

Also, once I've made it, can it be used for anything but lemonade? I have a nice lassi recipe with it someone sent me (thank you if its the same person that's on ilx..), I'll dig it out if this thread goes anywhere.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 6 July 2006 10:17 (nineteen years ago)

Flower waters are made by steam distillation, which I've never tried to do. It would be interesting to have a still, though.

― Jaq (Jaq), Thursday, 6 July 2006 11:28 (nineteen years ago)

Oh bollocks. You can't just stick the petals in the water? Grrr..

A still would be great. I just don't think I'd be using it for rose water, no matter how lovely it tastes.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 6 July 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

I had a white layer cake made with a touch of rose water that was very good, and these orangeflower-cardamon bread things in Portland - gillbasiers? something like that. They were also really good.

A friend at work gave me her spare steam juicer (I'm planning on processing grapes this fall) - I think it might possibly work as a still if I can pack ice on the lid. It's like a giant deep pot with a tube up the center and a tube pan (like for angel food cake) near the top. The tube pan has a drain at the bottom edge. Water goes in the bottom, grapes/berries/flower petals (?) go in the tube pan. Steam goes up the tube, condenses and falls back into the tube pan, and eventually you drain liquid gold out the tap. In theory.

― Jaq (Jaq), Thursday, 6 July 2006 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

buy rosewater at an indian grocery - it should cost a lot less there.

― geeta (geeta), Monday, 17 July 2006 03:28 (nineteen years ago)

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