Roses – Beautiful and Edible

Roses – Beautiful and Edible

As my roses begin coming into bloom this June, I’m reminded they aren’t just pretty – they are edible, too. I know, I know, the idea of eating flowers isn’t what most people consider normal…but there are good reasons to eat roses.
Rose petals are an excellent source of vitamin C, as well as a great source of B vitamins, vitamin K, carotene, calcium, magnesium, and copper. Rose hips – or the seed pods that appear after the flowers have fallen off – are a superb source of vitamin C. Depending upon the variety of rose, they contain 20 to 40 percent more of this vitamin than oranges. Hips also contain 25 percent more vitamin A and iron than oranges – plus 28 percent more calcium. They also contain B-complex vitamins and vitamin E. Even a roses’ leaves are edible – although I can find no nutritional information for them.
But before you head outdoors to pick some edible roses, remember two things: You don’t want roses that have been sprayed with chemicals; neither should you eat roses planted near roadways where they may have absorbed chemical fumes.
How do you eat roses? A good way to start is a salad. Choose flowers that are open, but not wilted. Rinse, then cut off the white part, near the base of the petal, which is bitter. Then just toss them into a salad. Rose petal sugar is also delightful. In a glass jar, layer fresh rose petals with granulated sugar. Put a lid on the jar and keep it in a cool, dark location for about a week. Remove the rose petals and use the sugar for baking or for sweetening tea.
Rose leaves are best used for a tea that tastes similar to black tea, but without the caffeine. Leaves can be harvested any time of year, but are best before the plant blooms. Pick only a handful or so off each plant or you may jeopardize the rose’s health. Dry the leaves in a dehydrator at 95 degrees F. or in a paper bag. Crumble the leaves into a tea ball and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Rose hips should be harvest after autumn’s first frost and must be firm and red. Cut off the toothed bottom, then slice in half and remove the seeds. (If eaten, the seeds can cause digestive problems.) Toss the rose hips into a stew or soup. You can also dry them in the sun or in a dehydrator to use for making tea.

SOURCE :: http://blog.gourmetrecipe.com/2012/06/07/roses-beautiful-and-edible/