How to make your own rose water

YOU'LL NEED

• Large pot with lid
• Heat resistant glass or stainless steel bowl (small enough to fit inside the pot)
• Ice
• Water
• 1 drop of beet juice
• 2-3 quarts of rose petals.

Petals should only be from fully expressed fragrant blooms but before the petals have browned. It's best to pick them just after the morning dew has evaporated, a few hours after sunrise. Use organic if possible, if not then thoroughly rinse to remove any chemicals.

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the petals inside the pot and pour enough water to cover them. Set the bowl in the centre of the pot, with the rim higher than the water by a few inches. If you need to elevate it, use a canning rack or fireplace brick or something that will not move around in the water.
2. Cover the pot with the lid flipped upside down, and bring the rose petals to a boil. Once the water is boiling, fill the top of the lid (still flipped) with ice cubes. Reduce the heat to barely a simmer for 2 hours.
3. Add more ice as needed, checking occasionally to make sure there is still enough water over the petals. If you need to add more, make sure not to get any water in the centre bowl.
4. The condensation from the heat/ice will drip into the bowl leaving a pure rose water. It should make between one pint and one quart of sumptuously fragrant rose water.
5. Add one drop of beet juice to give the water a pink hue.
6. Store rose water in a glass bottle with a spray top or tight fitting lid.
Use as a refreshing spritzer or to pretty-up your bubble bath!
How-to courtesy of roostblog.com