Everythings rosy - Uses & benefits of rose petals
Roses have a long and beautiful history. Believed to be 350 million years old they have been used as confetti, for medicinal purposes, for perfume and as a source of food.
All rose petals are edible, not just the wild varieties we come across in the countryside but also the cultivated ones in your garden. They are in the same family as strawberries and apples and as well as the delicate petals in the summer they also have an extremely nutritional fruit that follows. If you have a particular favourite rose with a great scent and you know its not been sprayed with pesticides, it can be harvested and used in a variety of ways.
CUT FLOWERS
The most obvious way to use your roses is to cut them and display them in the house to make the most of their enchanting look and smell
ROSEWATER
Lots of recipes call for rose water and it is very expensive too but pretty simple to make. All you need to do is put your rose petals just covered with water in a pan and simmer for 30 mins. Once simmered strain in a clean container and use as per recipe. Keep refrigerated and use within 3 days.
POTPOURRI
Pick the most colourful and the most fragrant flowers for this. Dry them on the window sill for a few days and dot them in bowls around the house for a natural and organic aroma
CONFETTI
Getting married this summer or know someone who is? Why not make your own biodegradable confetti ideal for throwing on the special day or sprinkling on the marital bed or in floating in a romantic bath. Just dry as with potpourri and store in a non-airtight container until needed,
ROSE PETAL WINE
As well as its scarlet coloured hips, rose petals make a lovely blush coloured wine. It can be made by simply steeping rose petals with yeast and a little sugar. It's a long-loved traditional wine, which is best served chilled on a summer day.
ROSE PETAL SOAP
A simple and refreshing soap can be easily made using rose petals gathered on a warm sunny day and left to dry naturally before using them, along with some essential oils to make a soap that not only smells great but has added benefits of being beneficial for the skin and body too.
ROSE PETAL JAM
A personal favourite of mine I love making rose petal jam. I find the texture to be just perfect for spreading on homemade scones straight out of the oven. All you need to do is mix 500g jam sugar and 500g rose petals in a bowl, leave overnight to macerate and allow the scent to release. The next day heat slowly in a heavy-based saucepan with 1 litre of water until a jam thermometer reaches setting point and simmer for 20 mins, before pouring into sterilised jars.
ROSE PETAL SYRUP
Simple syrup is as easy as its name but making a rose flavoured simple syrup is just as easy, all you need to do is put 1 cup of water 1 cup of sugar and 2 cups of rose petals into a pan. Heat until it boils and simmer for 5 mins then pour through a very fine muslin cloth seeds and enjoy poured over ice cream or to sweeten a glass of fizz.
DON'T FORGET TO POP BACK LATER IN THE SUMMER FOR GREAT USES FOR ROSE HIPS
All rose petals are edible, not just the wild varieties we come across in the countryside but also the cultivated ones in your garden. They are in the same family as strawberries and apples and as well as the delicate petals in the summer they also have an extremely nutritional fruit that follows. If you have a particular favourite rose with a great scent and you know its not been sprayed with pesticides, it can be harvested and used in a variety of ways. 
CUT FLOWERS
The most obvious way to use your roses is to cut them and display them in the house to make the most of their enchanting look and smell
ROSEWATER
Lots of recipes call for rose water and it is very expensive too but pretty simple to make. All you need to do is put your rose petals just covered with water in a pan and simmer for 30 mins. Once simmered strain in a clean container and use as per recipe. Keep refrigerated and use within 3 days.
POTPOURRIPick the most colourful and the most fragrant flowers for this. Dry them on the window sill for a few days and dot them in bowls around the house for a natural and organic aroma
CONFETTI
Getting married this summer or know someone who is? Why not make your own biodegradable confetti ideal for throwing on the special day or sprinkling on the marital bed or in floating in a romantic bath. Just dry as with potpourri and store in a non-airtight container until needed,
ROSE PETAL WINE
As well as its scarlet coloured hips, rose petals make a lovely blush coloured wine. It can be made by simply steeping rose petals with yeast and a little sugar. It's a long-loved traditional wine, which is best served chilled on a summer day.
ROSE PETAL SOAP
A simple and refreshing soap can be easily made using rose petals gathered on a warm sunny day and left to dry naturally before using them, along with some essential oils to make a soap that not only smells great but has added benefits of being beneficial for the skin and body too.
ROSE PETAL JAM
A personal favourite of mine I love making rose petal jam. I find the texture to be just perfect for spreading on homemade scones straight out of the oven. All you need to do is mix 500g jam sugar and 500g rose petals in a bowl, leave overnight to macerate and allow the scent to release. The next day heat slowly in a heavy-based saucepan with 1 litre of water until a jam thermometer reaches setting point and simmer for 20 mins, before pouring into sterilised jars.ROSE PETAL SYRUP
Simple syrup is as easy as its name but making a rose flavoured simple syrup is just as easy, all you need to do is put 1 cup of water 1 cup of sugar and 2 cups of rose petals into a pan. Heat until it boils and simmer for 5 mins then pour through a very fine muslin cloth seeds and enjoy poured over ice cream or to sweeten a glass of fizz.
DON'T FORGET TO POP BACK LATER IN THE SUMMER FOR GREAT USES FOR ROSE HIPS
Rose Petal Wine all the way for me. Though last year I added many oranges, and that has come out rather splendidly. I may try the jam if I have enough rose petals - that sounds promising.
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