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Rose petals in sugar

6/17/2013

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One of the  English names  for Rosa x  centifolia is the cabbage rose. With all due respect,  it does not reflect the old-fashioned charm of this very old rose which has been in cultivation for centuries now. But it does reflect the overall shape of the flower  which  resembles ... a cabbage but wonderfully scented with rose oil. There are a lot of cultivars of the hundred petaled rose ( a literary translation of its Latin name), mostly pink or magenta in colour. They bloom only once a year  producing a profusion of flowers and the time is just now. After having enjoyed the  perfume of  the fragrant flowers we  can  put them  to good use making rose petals in sugar. 

What do we do? First we need to pick a lot of rose petals as possible as they shrink while mixing with sugar. By 'a lot' a mean at least two or three liters (about four or six pints) in order to produce a liter (two pints) of the final product. The best time  for rose  petals  picking is on a sunny day because it is easier to collect dry petals and  separate  the occasional living creatures that might be residing among them. Choose flowers whose stamens are  still yellow.  Now, all collected flowers (do not wash them!) must be mixed with coarse white sugar (about 0.5-0. 75 kg) in a deep ceramic bowl. At first the mixing seems impossible to be done but  start crashing the petals with a wooden pestle rubbing the mixture against the bowl . After a few impossible  trials the moisture from the crashed petals  starts to help dissolve the sugar and soon we get a nice fragrant pulp with still visible fragments of rose petals.  That is all.  Now fill a glass jar with the pulp, twist firmly and put into the fridge, where the rose preserve retains its aroma and color better. The  color will lose its purple tint with time but it does not impair the quality at all. 
Some may ask why not use the electric blender.  It is too efficient and I think, the  rose oil preserves better in bigger fragments of the crushed petals which can always be blended later preparing desserts, drinks, cakes,  whatever. My advice is: do not overdose. Some people find the smell of  rose oil  too strong for their liking. In this case less is more and more is less. 
Rose petals are great to prepare a home made liquor. I will share the recipe soon, I promise.
Jarek 
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    I was destined to be born gardener. In order to become a professional  one I had to enjoy years of studying at various  schools and  universities...  read more

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