Roses and Rose Water Recipes
By Lady Tammarrion de Sidana April 2002
Background:
Rosewater is water that has had rose petals infused into it. Often used in medieval cooking for its sweet flavour. Also used in some medieval perfumes and cosmetics.
The roses used for flavoring are called species roses and are totally different than the hybrid teas which most people have in their gardens. Hybrid teas have very little scent while species roses sometimes have an overwhelming scent. Also teas usually bloom throughout the season while species roses bloom all at once and are done for the year. In modern manufacturing the leaves of the rose geranium are more oftentimes than not used to produce "rose oil" because their scent is far more "rose-like" than roses.
Recipes:
"The Medieval Home Companion", translated and edited by Tania Bayard:
Note: The manuscript used in "The Medieval Home Companion" has also been translated as "Le Mesnagier de Paris" (The Householder of Paris), and "The Goodman of Paris".
To make rose water without an alembic:
Take a barber's basin, stretch a kerchief over the mouth, and fasten it, covering the basin completely, like a drum. Put your roses on the kerchief and above them set the bottom of another basin containing hot cinders and live coals.
Take a barber's basin, stretch a kerchief over the mouth, and fasten it, covering the basin completely, like a drum. Put your roses on the kerchief and above them set the bottom of another basin containing hot cinders and live coals.
This recipe was from “Askham's Herbal” (1550):
Some do put rose water in a glass and they put roses with their dew hereto and they make it to boile in water, then they set it in the sune tyll it be readde and this water is beste.
Sir Hugh Plat's “Delightes for Ladies” (1609) has a recipe for distillation of herb-waters, with additional comments about different ways of doing rosewater. He assumes you are familiar with the basics of distillation. Platt is also in Cariadoc's cookbook collection volume 1.
To draw both good Rosewater and oyle of Roses together After you have digested your Rose leaves by the space of 3 moneths ...then distill them with fair water in a Limbeck: draw so long as you can find any excellent smell of the Rose, then divide the fattie oyle that fleeteth on the top of the Rosewater, and so you have both excellent oyle of Roses, and also good Rosewater together...
"Rose Recipes From Olden Times" by Eleanour Sinclair Rohde:
To make an excellent Rose-water, let the flowers be gathered two or
three hours after the sun-rising in very fine weather; beat them in a
marble mortar into a paste, and leave them in the mortar soaking in
their juice for five or six hours; then put the mass into a coarse
canvas bag, and press out the juice to every quart of which add a
pound of fresh Damask Roses, and let them stand in infusion for twenty
four hours. Then put the whole into a glass alembic, lute on a head of
receiver, and place it on sand heat. Distil at first with a gentle
fire, which is to be increased gradually till the drops follow each
other as quick as possible; draw off the water as long as it continues
to run clear, then put out the fire, and let the alembic stand till
cold. The distilled water at first will have very little fragrancy,
but after being exposed to the heat of the sun about eight days, in a
bottle lightly stopped with a bit of paper, it acquires an admirable
scent.---The Toiler of Flora.
three hours after the sun-rising in very fine weather; beat them in a
marble mortar into a paste, and leave them in the mortar soaking in
their juice for five or six hours; then put the mass into a coarse
canvas bag, and press out the juice to every quart of which add a
pound of fresh Damask Roses, and let them stand in infusion for twenty
four hours. Then put the whole into a glass alembic, lute on a head of
receiver, and place it on sand heat. Distil at first with a gentle
fire, which is to be increased gradually till the drops follow each
other as quick as possible; draw off the water as long as it continues
to run clear, then put out the fire, and let the alembic stand till
cold. The distilled water at first will have very little fragrancy,
but after being exposed to the heat of the sun about eight days, in a
bottle lightly stopped with a bit of paper, it acquires an admirable
scent.---The Toiler of Flora.
Modern Stovetop Method:
It is important to use petals that have never been sprayed with insecticide. Pull off several handfuls of petals into a colander and then wash them in cold water. This is to get rid of any stray bugs. Drop the leaves into a sauce pan, and just cover them with water. Heat gently on the stove. The water will be tinted by the petals. When the petals (or what's left of them) turn pasty white, and the water is rose colored, strain the petals out of the water. At this point you can put in a new batch of petals to make it even stronger, but it isn't absolutely necessary. It will keep for quite a while in the refrigerator.
Solar Method:
Pick the best scented roses you have. Place them in a gallon glass jar. Cover with water (Distilled water that can be bought at the store in gallon jugs is best). Set the roses and water out in the sun for about 2 weeks. Check to see if you get the scent you are searching for. If it is not ready yet, then let it set in the sun for another week. When you have reached the desired scent, strain the flowers from the water and place the rose scented water in a cool, shady area or the refrigerator.
List of Medieval Roses: (All are non-repeat bloomers unless otherwise indicated)
Old Roses
- Alabandian Rose
Pliny
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Apothecary Rose (Rosa gallica officinalis) (Double French Rose, Red Rose of Lancaster)
"cultivated prior to 1500"
Red, strong fragrance,3-5 ft. tall, semi-double bloom 2-3" dia.Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Sunset Roses 1989, Wild & Old Roses
Red, strong fragrance,3-5 ft. tall, semi-double bloom 2-3" dia.Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Sunset Roses 1989, Wild & Old Roses
- Autumn Damask (Rosa damascena bifera) (Rose of Castille, Quatre Saisons)
"pre-Roman" - WO
Clear pink, highly scented; loose blossoms, large plant open & thorny with light yellowish grey-green foliage, double flowers; repeat bloom.
Sunset Roses 1989; Wild & Old Roses
Clear pink, highly scented; loose blossoms, large plant open & thorny with light yellowish grey-green foliage, double flowers; repeat bloom.
Sunset Roses 1989; Wild & Old Roses
- Autumn Damask (see above) (Rosa damascena semperflorens) (Four Seasons Rose, Rose des Quatre Saisons, Rose of Paestum)
"unknown"
Deep pink, moderate fragrance, vigorous 3-4 ft., double to semi-double bloom 3-4" 20 petals; repeat blooms Spring & Fall (blooms almost continuously).
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975
- Bramble Rose
Pliny
Lost Roses
Lost Roses
- Campanian Rose
Pliny
?Reddish purple blossom, early Spring bloom.
Possible Cinnamon Rose - R. cinnamomea.
Lost Roses
?Reddish purple blossom, early Spring bloom.
Possible Cinnamon Rose - R. cinnamomea.
Lost Roses
- Carthage Rose
Pliny
Winter Bloom; from Spain.
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Winter Bloom; from Spain.
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Cyrene Rose
Pliny
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Damask Rose (Rosa damascena) (Rose of Castile)
"ancient rose from Asia Minor, intro. into Europe 16th C." - T/L; "introduced to Europe in 12th C. (crusades)" "first written reference Virgil 50 B.C." - Taylor's.
Red, pink or white with occassional stripes, strong fragrance, 4-5 ft tall, double flowers 2 1/2-3 1/2" dia.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Taylor's
Red, pink or white with occassional stripes, strong fragrance, 4-5 ft tall, double flowers 2 1/2-3 1/2" dia.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Taylor's
- Eglantine (Rosa eglanteria) (Rosa rubiginosa) (Sweetbrier Rose)
"Cultivated prior to 1551"
Pink, apple scented foliage, flower sweet true rose scent; disease free and winter hardy
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Wild & Old Roses, Taylor's
Pink, apple scented foliage, flower sweet true rose scent; disease free and winter hardy
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Wild & Old Roses, Taylor's
- Great double white (Rosa alba maxima) (Cheshire or Jakobite Rose)
"a grand rose of great antiquity"; "about 1450"
White, muddled centers open as creamy blush which changes to white, to 6ft., lead green leaves in bunches mostly @ top, blooms double, flat, abundant, excellent hips, grows to 7' tall, very fragrant.
Wild & Old Roses
White, muddled centers open as creamy blush which changes to white, to 6ft., lead green leaves in bunches mostly @ top, blooms double, flat, abundant, excellent hips, grows to 7' tall, very fragrant.
Wild & Old Roses
- Hundred-petalled Rose (Rosa centifolia)
Pliny mentions.
Great fragrance.
Modern is not the same (dev. c. 1700); original became extinct in ancient times.
Lost Roses
Great fragrance.
Modern is not the same (dev. c. 1700); original became extinct in ancient times.
Lost Roses
- Little Greek Rose
Pliny
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Milesian Rose
Pliny
Fiery red, late spring bloom.
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Fiery red, late spring bloom.
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Mucetum Rose
Pliny
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Praeneste Rose
Pliny
Last to fade.
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Last to fade.
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Prickly Rose
Pliny
Lost Roses
Lost Roses
- Rosa Alba (Rosa alba) (White Rose of York, Jakobite Rose, Bonny Prince Charley Rose)
"Cultivated prior to 100 AD"
White, moderate fragrance, 6-8 ft. tall, orig. var. single 5 petal 2-3" dia. profuse bloom. Hardiness, vigor, happy under all conditions, wet, dry, sun or shade - WO
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Wild & Old Roses
White, moderate fragrance, 6-8 ft. tall, orig. var. single 5 petal 2-3" dia. profuse bloom. Hardiness, vigor, happy under all conditions, wet, dry, sun or shade - WO
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Wild & Old Roses
- (Rosa gallica)
"Mediterranean, Cretan wall paintings 16th C BC", Pliny - WO
Clear pink, "delicious" scent.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Wild & Old Roses
Clear pink, "delicious" scent.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Wild & Old Roses
- Rosa Mundi(Rosa gallica versicolour)
"cultivated prior to 1581"; " pre-16th century" - WO
Striped red, white & pink with yellow stamens, moderate scent, 3 1/2-5 ft tall, semi-double blossom, 2-3" dia.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Sunset Roses 1989, Wild & Old Roses
Striped red, white & pink with yellow stamens, moderate scent, 3 1/2-5 ft tall, semi-double blossom, 2-3" dia.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975, Sunset Roses 1989, Wild & Old Roses
- (Rosa sempervirens)
"prior to 1583"?
a wild rose native to the warmer Mediterranean areas like the south of France
Lost Roses
a wild rose native to the warmer Mediterranean areas like the south of France
Lost Roses
- Trachinian Rose
Pliny
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
Possible gallica.
Lost Roses
- Tuscany (Old Velvet)
"Introduced 1596 by John Gerard, Catalogus"
Deep crimson with conspicuous yellow stamen, slight fragrance, 3-4 ft vigorous upright bushes, velvety semi-double bloom 2 1/2-4" dia.Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Lost Roses
Deep crimson with conspicuous yellow stamen, slight fragrance, 3-4 ft vigorous upright bushes, velvety semi-double bloom 2 1/2-4" dia.Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Lost Roses
- White Rose of York (Rosa alba semiplena)
"prior to 1455?"; "prior to 1473"
White, with golden yellow stamens; flower nearer single than a semi-double, excellent hips, grows to 6' tall, very fragant.
Wild & Old Roses
White, with golden yellow stamens; flower nearer single than a semi-double, excellent hips, grows to 6' tall, very fragant.
Wild & Old Roses
- York & Lancaster (Rosa damascena versicolor) (Rosa damascena variegata)
"1551"; "cultivated prior to 1700"; "first recorded by Monardes in 1551" - WO
White, pink or combination, fragrant to moderately fragrant, variously described as "3-4' bushy, very bristly and thorny, blooms 2 1/2-3" double 24-30 petals loosely cup shaped; not very vigorous, disease free and winter hardy" and "4-7 ft tall, semi-double flowers, 1 1/2-2 1/2" dia. less than 20 petals, clusters of 3-5 on long stem".
Taylor's; Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Wild & Old Roses
White, pink or combination, fragrant to moderately fragrant, variously described as "3-4' bushy, very bristly and thorny, blooms 2 1/2-3" double 24-30 petals loosely cup shaped; not very vigorous, disease free and winter hardy" and "4-7 ft tall, semi-double flowers, 1 1/2-2 1/2" dia. less than 20 petals, clusters of 3-5 on long stem".
Taylor's; Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Wild & Old Roses
Wild Roses
- Apple Rose (R. villosa) (Pomifera)
Native to Europe.
- Austrian Copper (Brier) (Rosa fætida bicolor) (R. lutea punicea)
"brought to Europe thru Spain by Moors before 13th Century" - T/L; "known prior to 1590, said from Asia Minor via Vienna, hence 'Austrian'" - WO; "before 1590" - Taylor's; " it was grown in the Arab world as early as the 12th C" - Austin.
Orange (flame)-yellow, heavy aroma, flowers single 5 petal 2-21/2" dia. 4-5 ft tall moderately thorny; apparent susceptibility to Black Spot, not reliably winter hardy.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Wild & Old Roses; Taylor's; Austin.
Orange (flame)-yellow, heavy aroma, flowers single 5 petal 2-21/2" dia. 4-5 ft tall moderately thorny; apparent susceptibility to Black Spot, not reliably winter hardy.
Time-Life Enc. of Gard. - Roses 1975; Wild & Old Roses; Taylor's; Austin.
- English Wild Dogrose (Rosa canina)
"one of Pliny's 12 roses which the Romans knew"
Very hardy, variable habit; mid-summer flowering, variable colour. Used for understock (root graft stock) for many modern roses.
Wild & Old Roses
Very hardy, variable habit; mid-summer flowering, variable colour. Used for understock (root graft stock) for many modern roses.
Wild & Old Roses
- Field Rose (Rosa arvensis) (English Musk Rose, Ayrshire Rose)
White, creamy, little or no fragrance; musk ?; 4-5 cm flower, flowers in July, single.
May be Shakespeare's Musk Rose or White Rose of York
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
May be Shakespeare's Musk Rose or White Rose of York
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
- Little Chaplet Rose
Pliny
VeryAutumn bloom.
Possible musk rose.
Lost Roses
VeryAutumn bloom.
Possible musk rose.
Lost Roses
- Musk Rose (Rosa moschata) (Not R. brunonii)
"prior to 1600"
White, musk fragrance, single flower, rapid reflex, late summer-autumn, 10-12 ft. Sunny
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
White, musk fragrance, single flower, rapid reflex, late summer-autumn, 10-12 ft. Sunny
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
- (Rosa agrestis)
Species; native to Europe.
- (Rosa nitida)
Deep Pink with Yellow stamens, 1 1/2-2' high. Eastern Canada & New England
Wild & Old Roses
Wild & Old Roses
- (Rosa woodsii fendleri)
Clear soft lilac pink flowers with cream stamens, flowers very early in spring. BC to Mexico.
Wild & Old Roses
Wild & Old Roses
- Scottish Wild Rose (Rosa spinosissima) (Burnet Rose; Scotch Briar)
White or pale pink, exhilarating & fresh scent, widest variation - 9" to 3'; flowers May & June; small blooms, profuse single 5 petal, veryhardy.
Ranges to Iceland
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses; Taylor's
Ranges to Iceland
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses; Taylor's
Climbing Roses
- Field Rose (Rosa arvensis) (English Musk Rose, Ayrshire Rose)
White, creamy, little or no fragrance; musk ?; 4-5 cm flower, flowers in July, single.
May be Shakespeare's Musk Rose or White Rose of York
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
May be Shakespeare's Musk Rose or White Rose of York
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
- Musk Rose (Rosa moschata) (Not R. brunonii)
"prior to 1600"
White, musk fragrance, single flower, rapid reflex, late summer-autumn, 10-12 ft. Sunny
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
White, musk fragrance, single flower, rapid reflex, late summer-autumn, 10-12 ft. Sunny
Wild & Old Roses; Lost Roses
Bibliography for Medieval Roses:
· Austin, David. The Heritage of the Rose. n.l.: Antique Collector's Club, 1988. (ISBN1-85149-020-5)
· Christopher, Thomas. In Search of Lost Roses. New York: Summit Books, 1989.
· Crockett, James Underwood and the editors of Time-Life Books. Roses. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1978. (Time-Life Encyclopedia of Gardening (series))
· DeWolf, Gordon P., ed. Taylor's Guide to Roses. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1986.
· Edwards, Gordon. Wild and Old Garden Roses. New York: Hafner Press, 1975.
· Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine. Roses. Menlo Park, CA: Lane Publishing, 1989.
Suppliers of Medieval Roses:
Pickering Nurseries Inc. (http://www.pickeringnurseries.com/)
PICKERING NURSERIES INC.
3043 COUNTRY ROAD RR1
PORT HOPE ON L1A 3V5
Heirloom Old Garden Roses (http://www.heirloomroses.com)
24062 Riverside Dr NE
St Paul OR 97137
(503) 538-1576.
Vintage Gardens (http://www.vintagegardens.com)
2833 Old Gravenstein Hwy. So.
Sebastopol, California 95472
VOICE (707) 829-2035 FAX (707) 829-9516
VOICE (707) 829-2035 FAX (707) 829-9516
Old Rose Nursery (http://www.oldrosenursery.com)
1020 Central Road
Hornby Island BC
Phone: (250) 335-2603
Fax: (250) 335-2602
(Will only sell/ship to Canada)
Hornby Island BC
Phone: (250) 335-2603
Fax: (250) 335-2602
(Will only sell/ship to Canada)
Regan Nursery (http://www.regannursery.com)
4268 Decoto Road
Fremont, CA 94558
Fremont, CA 94558
800 249-4680
Fax 510 793-5408
High Country Roses (was High Country Rosarium) (http://highcountryroses.com)
PO Box 148
Jensen, Utah 84035
Jensen, Utah 84035
Phone: 435-789-3371 or 800-552-2082
Fax: 435-789-5517
Fax: 435-789-5517
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