Rose Cordial
A fragrant rose-flavored simple syrup made with rose petals, citrus, and citric acid. Ready in 24 hours, perfect for soda, mocktails, cocktails, and tea-party drinks.
Servings: 24 servings, Makes about 3 cups
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh rose petals tightly packed (or 1/4 cup dried edible rose petals or rose buds)
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon citric acid
- 1 large lemon sliced thin
- 1 large orange sliced thin (or substitute a second lemon for a sharper, less sweet finish)
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves and the syrup is clear, then remove from heat.
- Let the syrup cool for about 10 minutes off the heat. You want it warm, not boiling, when it hits the rose petals.
- Place the rose petals, sliced citrus, and citric acid in a half gallon mason jar or large heatproof bowl. Pour the warm syrup over the top and stir gently.
- Cover loosely and steep at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for 24 hours. No need to refrigerate during the steep.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing gently on the petals and citrus to extract all the syrup. For a perfectly clear cordial, run a second pass through cheesecloth.
- Bottle in clean glass bottles and refrigerate. Use within 4 to 6 weeks.
Notes
Citric acid: The 1/2 teaspoon amount is scaled from Herbal Academy's standard home cordial preservation ratio of 1/4 teaspoon per pint, applied to this batch's 3 to 4 cup yield. Citric acid does two jobs: it adds the bright tartness that balances the heavy sweetness, and it lowers the pH enough to extend the shelf life from about 1 week to 4 to 6 weeks. Don't skip it, and don't double it.
Rose sourcing: Roses must be unsprayed. Cultivated florist or garden-center roses are routinely treated with fungicides and systemic insecticides that should not be steeped into a drink. Use wild roses, your own unsprayed garden roses, or food-grade dried petals from an herb supplier.
Dried petals: Substitute 1/4 cup dried edible rose petals or buds for the 2 cups fresh. Dried petals are roughly 8 times more concentrated. Flavor is slightly deeper and more tea-like.
Color: Deep red and dark pink rose petals give the most dramatic pink. Pale pink and white petals give a softer, almost amber syrup. Wild roses are usually pale pink; both produce delicious cordial.
Storage: Refrigerator only, 4 to 6 weeks. This is not shelf-stable. Toss any bottle that develops bubbles, off smells, or fizzy fermented character.
To use: Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons into a glass of seltzer for a quick rose soda. Splash into lemonade, iced tea, sparkling wine, or cocktails anywhere a floral simple syrup would help. Drizzle over fresh fruit, ice cream, or pound cake.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Tbsp | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.002g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.02mg