One of my rose bushes has so many blossoms on it this Spring, heavy cupped peach colored blossoms so fragrant. It is an English climbing rose I planted in the garden for Emma’s fourteenth birthday, when we were living in the tiny house while our house was being rebuilt. I am a real fan of highly fragrant roses, loving particularly the varietals with fruity scent, because when I pick a small jar of them and bring into the house, they just fill the room with a fragrant natural beauty. And this afternoon I made myself a rose “soda” and drank it while calculating notes for a future rose-themed sweater design. After picking a few blossoms it occurred to me to try to steep the petals in sugar syrup, making a rose syrup. And it doesn’t take long at all, really just a few hours, for its now the late afternoon, and I’m enjoying the most unusual refreshing drink, with delicious rose floral notes. Here’s how I made rose syrup, which you can just mix with sparkling water and have a winner drink:
- Pluck petals off of a couple of roses, and place fresh petals in a pyrex liquid measure.
- Boil up a small amount of simple syrup, equal parts water to sugar, enough to cover the petals.
- Pour over petals and let steep for a couple of hours, after which you’ll really begin to taste the rose infusion, which always surprises me.
- Pour through fine sieve into a jar or bottle, and store in the fridge (into one of the bottles I put some dried rose petals too)
Jenjoyce Design 
Wow! What a fantastic idea. I have way too much shade in my yard to have successful roses or this would be a “must” for me. As I drink my shot of frozen limoncello I long for a glass of your rose water refresher. Mmmmmm
Ah Virginia, I wish you were here so I could pour you a nice glass of rose soda ! I bet you could snatch one or two blossoms from somewhere? Enjoy the yummy limoncello though, which I LOVE one. I found a fun lovely video on how to make it, would you like to try? (( from my favorite Italian cook Genaro Contaldo…lol)) xx
Your roses are always so beautiful. xo
Aww, thank you, I still have the one you gave me too, but all roses have been moved down into the fenced-in garden because Juno decided she likes to shred plants. Bummer, so the deck is basically a stick yard..lol.
Remember I use to prefer the hybrid teas? But now I like the old-fashioned ones with cup shaped blossoms heavily drooping, because they’re just loaded with scent and well, I hope I continue trying ways to use them in cooking and dessert making. xx
I mean the ones you gave me, there are several!