Damask Rose

Damask rose is the rose behind Iran's celebrated rose water. Our dried rose holds that same soft perfume, ready to scent a cup, a dessert or a celebration table.

Draw out the fragrance

1. MeasureUse 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried rose for each 250ml cup.
2. SteepPour over water just off the boil and leave for 5 to 7 minutes for a pale, gently fragrant cup.
3. FinishEnjoy it as it is, add a little honey, or drop a small pinch into a pot of black tea for a softer, floral brew.

Six ways to enjoy it

• In your teapotSteep it on its own for a caffeine free rose tea, or add a small pinch alongside your black tea.
• Persian dessertsCrush the petals over rice pudding, ice cream and baklava, desserts that Persian cooks also flavour with rose water.
• Spice blendsDried rose is a traditional ingredient in ras el hanout, the fragrant North African spice blend.
• BakingFold crushed petals into shortbread, cake batters and icing, or blitz them with sugar to make a fragrant rose sugar.
• Iced drinksSteep, chill and pour over ice with a slice of lemon for a delicate rose iced tea, or add a few petals to lemonade.
• DecorationScatter whole buds and petals over cakes, chocolate and celebration platters for a beautiful finishing touch.

How much to use

• A cup of tea1 to 2 teaspoons
• With black teaA small pinch per pot
• A litre of iced tea4 to 8 teaspoons
• DecoratingA few petals per serving

Good to know: only use roses sold as food. Garden and florist roses may have been treated with pesticides.

Roses have been treasured for their fragrance and wellbeing for centuries, and scientists continue to study them closely. Here is what the research has found so far.

Health benefits in research

• Calm and relaxationA 2021 review of randomised trials found that Damask rose, used in a variety of forms, significantly reduced feelings of anxiety, stress and low mood.
• Rich in antioxidantsRose tea contains natural polyphenols such as gallic acid, anthocyanins, kaempferol and quercetin. A study of 12 rose varieties found its antioxidant activity equal to or greater than green tea.
• Menstrual comfortIn a 2005 trial of 130 teenage students, drinking two cups of rose tea a day, made from a close relative of the Damask rose, reduced menstrual pain and improved wellbeing.
• Naturally caffeine freeRose tea contains no caffeine, so it is a gentle way to stay hydrated at any time of day, including the evening.

Much of this research is still at an early stage, some of it used rose oil rather than tea, and researchers agree that larger, longer studies are still needed.

The rose of Iran

In Iran the Damask rose is known as gol mohammadi. Every year from late May to mid June, around Ghamsar near Kashan, the flowers are picked at dawn and distilled into rose water in the golabgiri tradition, a method described by the physician Avicenna in the 11th century.

Enjoy it wisely

• CaffeineNone, naturally
• Food safetyRecognised as safe by the US FDA
• Choosing rosesFood grade roses only
• Pregnancy and breastfeedingSpeak to your doctor first

Please note: Damask rose is a food, not a medicine, and this information is not medical advice. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, speak to your doctor before using rose in more than everyday food amounts.