Simple syrup sounds so easy, and it is. Kinda. I want to make some interesting simple syrups to experiment with in cocktails, lemonade, soda etc. Every rose syrup recipe you look up states you have to use food grade roses. Not being able to find food grade fresh roses (they aren't blooming in gardens yet) I bought some food grade dried rose petals and buds from Amazon. They had pretty good reviews of being strong and tasting good.
I started small, 1 cup water, 1 cup roses and as a twist, 1/2 cup sugar. Just to see if I could make a half-sweet simple syrup. I used this nice cane sugar. I don't think I will next time. It's good, but even though it says all-purpose, it's better suited for some things than others since it has a slight molasses taste.
I put the sugar and water in and tossed in the roses. They would not sink! They just stayed dry floating on top.
Once I turned the heat on they became soggy and incorporated. I only simmered them for about 10 minutes, which is longer than it seems most people do it.
I strained the rose petals out using a fine mesh screen.
Whoa!! Looks like red wine!
I further strained it using a coffee filter to get all the petal particles out.
I added about a half tablespoon to some seltzer water. I was unimpressed. Haha! It's not very rosy! Perhaps fresh petals will be more rosy, but I really like the seasonal freedom of using dried. Plus I already have lots of dried. Hmm... This website recommends using a few drops of culinary rose oil to make it stronger tasting. I will be trying that next time.
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