I hope someone does post a recipe! A friend just offered me a few thousand roses from his garden, and I just can't let them go to waste!

I can't say whether or not the following is medieval, but I found a recipe online for homemade rosewater: www.hub-uk.com/tallyrecip...ipe0070.htm

The basic recipe info is below:

Rules when cooking with roses:
• Never use roses treated with insecticides or fungicides unless those products are approved for food crops!
• Thoroughly rinse the roses (particularly the petals) before using. Who wants to find a spider or other garden bug in their foods?!
• Harvest them early in the morning; when the roses are at their best and freshest; they should be fully mature, and about to fade
• Red roses are by far the best; yellow, orange and mauve-coloured roses tend to turn brown when cooked, while white roses can have diuretic qualities (they help flush the water from the body).

• Rosewater Recipe
1. Gather, pick 2 cups of scented petals; push the petals down so they are packed tightly (the fresher the better of course)
2. Place in stainless steel or enamel saucepan and cover with cold, soft water (rainwater or distilled is best)
3. Bring almost to a boil, allow to cool and strain (be careful not to actually boil the water)
4. Refrigerated it will remain scented for 7 days
• Chef's Tip
• Red Roses cause the water to turn a pale pink, other coloured roses turn the water a brownish yellow muddy colour. The actual ratio of roses to water depends on the colour and fragrance desired.
Source: www.hub-uk.com/tallyrecip...ipe0070.htm

Just an aside for those who might not have access to "home grown" roses. Don't try this with the long stemmed roses from the florist. They don't have the right (or enough) scent. I wasted a whole day several years ago trying to figure out why it wasn't coming out right, only to discover this.

However, I have done it with the red and pink heirloom type roses and it came out fine.

Well, I did some more research on my roses. I knew they were the root stock, but I have now identified which variety. It is called "Dr. Huey". Here is a picture of them: people.tribe.net/superjen/...6320f556fa

The bad thing is that they have very little fragrance, so I think that my attempts at attar or rosewater is doomed. I did start one method basically letting the roses steep in water in the sun (like sun tea) and letting it set to collect the oil. It turned a great purple color, but no oil yet.

[random] But I'm not made of roses....

...oh wait...you're not talking about my SCA name, are you? *heh*[/random]

Jibra'il `Attar
* one of those Persian personas