Rose water

Rose water is a flavoured water made by steeping rose petals in water. It is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals, a by-product of the production of rose oil for use in perfume. It is used to flavour food, as a component in some cosmetic and medical preparations, and for religious purposes throughout Europe and Asia. Rose syrup (not to be confused with rose-hip syrup) is made from rose water, with sugar added.

Origin

The cultivation of various fragrant flowers for obtaining perfumes including rose water may date back to Sassanid Persia.^[1] Locally it was known as golāb in Middle Persian, and as zoulápin in Byzantine Greek.^[2]

The modern mass production of rose water through steam distillation was refined by Persian chemist Avicenna in the medieval Islamic world which led to more efficient and economic uses for perfumery industries.^[3] This allowed for more efficient and lucrative trade.

Since ancient times, roses have been used medicinally, nutritionally, and as a source of perfume. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians considered large public rose gardens to be as important as croplands such as orchards and wheat fields.^[4]

Rose perfumes are made from rose oil, also called attar of roses, which is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by steam-distilling the crushed petals of roses, a process first developed in Iran (Persia). Rose water is a by-product of this process.^[5]

Uses

Edible

Rose water has a very distinctive flavour and is used heavily in Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine—especially in sweets such as nougat, gumdrops, and baklava. For example, rose water is used to give some types of Turkish delight (Rahat lokum) their distinctive flavors.

The Cypriot version of mahalebi uses rosewater.^[6] In Iran, it is also added to tea, ice cream, cookies and other sweets in small quantities, and in the Arab world, Pakistan and India it is used to flavor milk and dairy-based dishes such as rice pudding. It is also a key ingredient in sweet lassi, a drink made from yogurt, sugar and various fruit juices, and is also used to make jallab. In Malaysia and Singapore, sweet red-tinted rose water is mixed with milk, which then turns pink to make a sweet drink called bandung. Rose water is frequently used as a halal substitute for red wine and other alcohols in cooking; the Premier League offer a rose water-based beverage as an alternative for champagne when rewarding Muslim players.^[7]

Marzipan has long been flavoured with rose water. Marzipan originated in the Middle East and arrived in Western Europe by the Middle Ages; it continues to be served as a postprandial snack.^[8] Rose water was also used to make Waverly Jumbles. American and European bakers enjoyed the floral flavouring of rose water in their baking until the 19th century when vanilla flavouring became popular.

In parts of the Middle East, rose water is commonly added to lemonade or milk.

Cosmetic and medicinal use

Rose water is a usual component of perfume. A rose water ointment is occasionally used as an emollient, and rose water is sometimes used in cosmetics such as cold creams.

Medicinal use-Ayurveda: In India, rose water is used as eye drops to clear them. Some people in India also use rose water as spray applied directly to the face for natural fragrance and moisturizer, especially during winters. It is also used in Indian sweets and other food preparations (particularly gulab jamun). Rose water is often sprinkled in Indian weddings to welcome guests.

Religious uses

Rose water is used as a perfume in religious ceremonies (Muslim, Hindu and Zoroastrian). Water used to clean the Kaaba, the Qibla for Muslims located in Mecca, combines water from the Zamzam Well with rose water as an additive. In the Indian subcontinent during Muslim burials, rose water is often sprinkled in the dug grave before placing the body inside. Rose water is used in some Hindu rituals as well. Rose water also figures in Christianity, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church.^[9]

Composition

A small manufactory of rose water in Kashan

Depending on the origin and type of manufacturing method of rosewater obtained from the sepals and petals of Rosa × damascena from Central Iran through steam distillation, the following monoterpenoid and alkane components could be identified with GC-MS: mostly citronellol, nonadecane, geraniol and phenyl ethyl alcohol, and also henicosane, 9-nonadecen, eicosane, linalool, citronellyl acetate, methyleugenol, heptadecane, pentadecane, docosane, nerol, disiloxane, octadecane, and pentacosane. Usually, phenylethyl alcohol is responsible for the typical odour of rose water but not always present in rosewater products.^[10]

See also

• Damascus rose water

References

1. Mirrazavi, F. (March 25, 2013). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://sassanids.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Perfume-and-Perfume-Manufacturing-in-Ancient-Iran.pdf
2. Shahbazi, S. (1990). BYZANTINE-IRANIAN RELATIONS. In Encyclopædia Iranica (Vol. IV, pp. 588-599).
3. Ahmad Y Hassan, Transfer Of Islamic Technology To The West, Part III: Technology Transfer in the Chemical Industries, History of Science and Technology in Islam.
4. "The rose in Ancient times". Rosense.uk.com. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
5. Adamson, Melitta Weiss (2004-01-01). Food in Medieval Times. p. 29. ISBN 9780313321474.
6. "Mahalebi and Rose Water". Kopiaste.org. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
7. Gallagher, Ian (26 August 2012). "Man of the match? Here's your rosewater and pomegranate: Premier League offers non-alcoholic alternative to champagne to avoid offending Muslim players". Daily Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
8. Adamson, Melitta Weiss (2004-01-01). Food in Medieval Times. p. 89. ISBN 9780313321474.
9. "Journey through Holy Week & Pascha". Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church.
10. Loghmani-Khouzani H, Fini Sabzi O, Safari J H (2007). “Essential Oil Composition of Rosa damascena”. Scientia Iranica 14 (4), pp 316–319. Sharif University of Technology, Research Note

External links