Damask rose petals

Pétales de rose de Damas

What it is

Rosa × damascena is a sterile hybrid: every bush in Bulgaria's Rose Valley and around Isparta in Turkey descends from a cutting, never from seed. Pickers start before dawn because the perfume leaves the petal as the sun warms it, and it takes on the order of three tonnes of flowers to make a kilo of rose otto.

In the kitchen

Add rose at the end and off the heat — the aroma is volatile and a boil strips it. Working from concentrate rather than petals, start at two drops per litre; rose crosses from perfume to soap over a very short distance.

Goes with

Pistachio Raspberry Lychee Cardamom Honey Yogurt

Also used with

Cornflower Gum tragacanth Orris root

In season alongside

Linden blossom Black locust flower Acacia honey Bee pollen Courgette flower Darjeeling tea

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