Over the weekend I walked out to our little thicket of wild roses to pick rose petals.
I've wanted to make rose petal jelly or jam for literally years. Somehow I never have. But last weekend I resolved that I would go gather enough rose petals and just.do.it.
This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure page.
Hubby insisted I take a "snake stick" so I could flush out any reptiles, but all I saw was a scared bunny that scampered off at the sight of me. I crossed deer tracks in two places - that was a very large deer judging by the size of the prints - and saw evidence that our neighbors' cows have come calling recently.
Wild roses grow all along the roads here, but please don't use flowers (or other plants) that grow on the roadside. Emissions from car exhaust systems and lead in the soil have ruined these plants for anything other than visual pleasure. Also be sure to use flowers that haven't been treated with herbicides or pesticides. I know the plants on my own land haven't been sprayed and are far from the road.
The rose thicket is huge this year because of all the rain we've had. I've never seen so many roses. They are little six-petaled pink blossoms, not the domesticated roses we grow in our yards. The air was buzzing with the noise of many bees. I'm so thankful for the wild pollinators. I want a hive of bees of my own, but it didn't happen this year.
I felt a bit bad about taking the flowers, but I left the centers with the pollen for the bees, and there were many, many flowers and buds left when I had filled my basket. Hopefully there will be lots of rose hips later this summer. I've never managed to go foraging for those either.
Back in the house I sifted through the petals and pulled out a few little leaves and an ant, and left some yellow pollen on the bottom of the basket. I'd gathered four cups of leaves, lightly packed in the measuring cup. That's enough for two batches of rose petal jelly.
I'd bought a carton of squat, half-pint jars to use for this jelly. I washed them and set them aside while I made the jelly.
To make rose petal jelly, you'll need:
2 cups of fresh rose petals
2 cups filtered water
2 cups of sugar
juice of one lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
1 box of pectin
To begin, add the rose petals and filtered water to a pot. Turn on the heat and simmer gently for ten minutes. (At this point, I turned off the heat and went outside for half an hour to help hubby with a project. That time isn't included in the recipe but I'm sure it didn't hurt it.)
As it simmers, the color of the petals washes out and they get very pale. After ten minutes, pour through a strainer to remove the spent rose petals. Return the juice to the pot.
Add most of the sugar, reserving about 1/4 cup. Stir the juice so the sugar dissolves.
Next, add the lemon juice. The color changes when you do this; if you're making jam instead of jelly, the rose petals supposedly gain their color back when you add the lemon juice. Let this simmer for about ten minutes.
Mix the reserved sugar with the pectin and add to the pot. Simmer for another 20 minutes, then ladle into sterilized jars.
You can store your jelly in the refrigerator for up to six months, or you can water-bath can it to give it a longer shelf life. Makes about six 4-ounce jars.
How marvelous will this be, spooned onto hot, homemade biscuits in the middle of wintertime? or on dinner rolls? or English muffins? I don't think I'll wait until winter to find out.
Related posts:
When the Wild Roses Bloom
Harvest Apple Jelly (with directions on how to can jelly)
This post has been shared at some of my favorite blog hops.
~~~~~
My hope is to inspire you, and to encourage your homesteading plans and your dreams of a simple, self-reliant, God-dependent life. You can follow me at:
Facebook | Pinterest | Subscribe via email
I've never heard of rose petal jelly! Your pictures are beautiful. I especially like the one of the bee flying.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jamie! I hope you'll give this a try someday - or lilac jelly, dandelion jelly, or even corn cob jelly!
DeleteI have never hear of this before!!! Thanks for sharing at My Flagstaff Home.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
It has a light floral flavor and looks so delicate and special, plus it's fun to think that you're eating roses, Jennifer.
DeleteWow, I love this idea! What a great way to use rose petals and I bet it smells/tastes great!!!! Thanks for sharing with us on Simply Natural Saturday's!
ReplyDeleteIt does, Melissa! It has a very light and delicate taste.
DeleteThis sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jess.
DeleteI'm going to defiantly try this! thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you love it, Jamie.
DeleteI bet it tastes delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt does, Brittney, a light, floral taste that's delicious.
DeleteThat is delicious I am going to make it, My rose is blooming. Thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning , tweeting and featuring on next week's hop.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Swathi!
ReplyDeleteGood morning! Just a little note to let you know this post has been * featured* this week on The Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth! We hope to have you join in again this week! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jes!
DeleteOh, Kathi, I am too excited for this idea/recipe! I can taste it now on fresh, hot biscuits :p
ReplyDeleteI'll have to bum some petals off my brother's roses, though. But, it will be worth it. Bless you and your animals.
Mary, it is lovely and delicious and fresh, hot biscuits is a wonderful way to enjoy it! I hope your brother lets you "forage" some rose petals.
DeleteIt looks so delicious! Thank you for sharing how to make it!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Jennifer. Enjoy!
DeleteI have never heard of or had rose jelly before! Now I'm intrigued. Thanks, as always, for linking up to the Country Fair Blog Party.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Val!
Delete