Rose Petal Honey is very easy and satisfying to make. It takes surprisingly little amount of effort but yields a delightful harvest of flavor. I add a bit of cinnamon and cloves to round out the light rose petal flavor.
Be sure that you are choosing your most fragrant and freshest rose petals. Pay attention to the taste of the honey that you are choosing. Wildflower honey has a lightly floral taste already which is why I prefer it. Buckwheat honey will overpower almost any flavor and drown out the subtleties of the delicate rose.
Do not rinse your rose petals before putting in the honey. The extra moisture may introduce mold to your finished product. As you are using raw petals, be extra sure that you are harvesting petals that have not been sprayed by chemical pesticides or fungicides.
I add rose petal honey to teas, cocktails or on top of baked goods. I found that other items like coffee push rose petal to the background. The resulting honey is warmly sprinkled with spices.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup honey
- 2 cups freshly picked rose petals
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, powdered
- 1/8 tsp. clove, powdered (possibly less according to taste)
Equipment
- Measuring spoons
- Stirring spoon
- Measuring cup
- Strainer
- Stove or microwave or hot, sunny spot
- Cloth (optional)
- 2 Sealable 1 pint container and label
Procedure
- Collect rose petals in the morning in a pint jar.
- Pour honey over petals a little at a time and stir in honey as you go.
- Seal and label the container.
- Put rose petal honey container in a warm spot for 1 week. (If it is exposed to sunlight, cover the container with a cloth to prevent the sunlight from bleaching the color from your finished product.)
- Open rose petal honey container. The petals should have shrunken over time.
- Stir in powdered cinnamon and cloves.
- Heat the honey to a thin syrup either by microwaving it for one minute or by slowly heating it on the stove.
- Optional: Strain the rose petals out of the honey when warm.
Storage and Use
Keep your Rose Petal Honey in the kitchen or on the dining room table to drizzle over English muffins or stir into tea. Keep your honey pot covered to prevent ants or little kid fingers from finding its deliciousness.
If you do not strain out the rose petals, be sure to stir the honey well before use.
