How to Make Rose Petal Honey
The last roses of the season are blooming before the cold weather sets in. It's finally time for hot tea, homemade scones, and the final finishing touches on this year's natural medicine cabinet, which by the way include said roses. You may have heard me lavish my undying affection on rose before and I'll tell you right now, there's more to come.
Rose is an incredible relaxing nervine. It's anti-inflammatory and sedative. It's perfect for burns, minor wounds, sore muscles, stress, grief, seasonal affective disorder, and just good for uplifting the soul. Can anyone truly feel sad when smelling a rose? Their aroma alone can help heal heartsickness and ease depression allowing the heart to open and let the light in. I also love using rose to relieve PMS due to its ability to restore emotional equilibrium.
One of my favorite ways to use rose is by eating it. It may sound strange but I assure you rose has a delicious delicate flavor that is both mildly sweet and floral. Fresh rose petals drenched in honey is the perfect companion for teas, over toast, yogurt, oatmeal…the list goes on. You can have your own Downton Abbey style tea party because this stuff is fabulous and classy!
How to Make Rose Petal Honey
Making rose petal honey is super simple. All you need is fresh rose petals and a light local honey. Keep in mind- and this is very important- that the rose petals should never be sprayed with any chemicals or pesticides. You don't want that stuff in your rose honey.
The next thing you need to do is make sure that the roses smell very fragrant. The stronger the better! This is where the flavor comes from so I can't stress this enough. The best time to forage rose petals is just after the morning dew has evaporated from the petals. This is when their fragrance is strongest. I have to be honest though, I have foraged fragrant petals at all times of the day and haven't noticed much difference.
Once you have found the best fresh rose petals you can, start picking! The amount of rose petals you need largely depends on the amount of raw honey you have on hand. I didn't have very many petals or much honey left so I had to eyeball it. The most important thing to remember is that you must be able to cover the petals completely with honey to prevent spoilage.
Alrighty! Let's get to it.
Rose Petal Honey- Ingredients
• Fresh fragrant rose petals that have not been treated with chemicals
• Raw honey that is light. Dark honey is too savory (you can also use Manuka honey for a more medicinal honey)
• A chopstick or kitchen skewer
• A jar or flip-top jar
Loving Preparation- Rose Petal Honey
• Pick the fresh rose petals and lay them out on a paper towel
• Check for dirt and bugs, if you see either you will need to carefully rinse your rose petals and then dry them completely with a kitchen towel before using (water spoils honey!)
• Add the petals to your jar of choice and then pour over enough raw honey to cover the petals completely
• Use the chopstick to mix the petals and honey together to make sure the rose petals are completely covered
• Remove any air bubbles as best you can by tapping the jar on the table
• Cap tightly and place the rose honey in a cool dark place like a kitchen cabinet
• Periodically stir the honey for the next two weeks
• After two weeks, strain the honey through a wire/nylon mesh strainer to remove the petals into a new jar (they will look colorless and be quite fragile)
• Be sure to squeeze any remaining honey from the petals by using the back of a spoon
• Your rose honey is now ready to use!
[yumprint-recipe id='88']This honey is a great way to help you eliminate some of the refined sugars in your diet. Rose infused honey is the perfect addition to iced teas and drizzled over your favorite treats. I really hope you give it a try as it's kitchen medicine at its best!
For more rose related articles look below:
How to Eat a Rose
Rose Infused Witch Hazel
How to Make Rose Water
Raspberry Rose Liqueur- A Romance in Photos
Rejuvenating Matcha and Rose Face Mask
Rejuvenating Rosehip Facial Serum
How to Make Sweet Rose London Fog Tea
Facial Oils not Working out for You? Rose Water can Help!
The Benefits of Rose Water
Carmel says
Of all the recipes I have read on makin rose petal honey, this gives the most information. Thank you very much. I have been collecting rose petals from my garden but realize they don’t really have a perfume. So I don’t think I can use them. I am frustrated. I will keep searching though. Thanks again Tash.
Linda says
I have also made Sage honey and use it for sore throats also tasty
Tash says
That sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing Linda! 🙂
Linda says
I have made this and it is wonderful
Tash says
So glad you liked it!
Shirley says
What are some of the specific ways you use this honey? From the article it sounds as though you consume this both over food and in beverages but also you use it topically? I'd like to know more about it's topical applications - the how and why of it....?
Tash says
Hi Shirley!
Rose has some really amazing topical benefits. It's astringent which helps tighten pores, it's renewing so it sloughs off dead skin cells, and it moisturizes and nourishes the skin. For those who use honey as a cleanser adding rose just offers more benefits 🙂
Chloe says
This sounds lovely. I have never heard of rose petal honey, but I'm sure it is wonderful. I wish I had known about this when we still lived near our in-laws, who have rose bushes.
Renee Kohley says
Oh I majorly doing the seasonal affective disorder thing - I think I need to try this!
Melissa @ My Darla Clementine says
This is such a great way to use rose petals! I'm starting to get into herbal and infused honey, so this recipe is a great find for me. Thanks!
Tash says
I hope you give it a try Melissa! It's so good 😀
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This is so lovely! I bet the flavor is amazing!
Elaina Newton says
I wish I knew someone who was growing roses right now (without anything sprayed on them) so I could make this. Somehow, I don't trust the roses you'd get from the grocery store or even the flower shops. I bet this will be lovely to have around for Valentine's Day desserts!
linda spiker says
Lovely! Just lovely!