ROSE PETAL TEA {with a little video}



May makes me sentimental. Yesterday was Mother's Day, and Paul and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary over the weekend (yes, we were practically babies when we got married!). May 2nd also marked the sixth anniversary of our little niece who passed way too soon. This month is packed with milestones beautiful, hopeful and painfully real.

End-of-school also brings its own palpable energy... I can feel it in the warmer air, see it in late evening light and all the bursting foliage. Even though it has been decades since I was a student, I still get an antsy, excited feeling of anticipation this time of year when Summer is within reach. My inner teenager wants to daydream and hit the beach, but life is busy - between end-of-year school activities, Lilah's newly found passion for softball, P's second semester push, and lots of activity around my book - I crave simple pleasures.




I can almost always find solace in our garden. Stepping outside to do a little weeding might mean a whiff of just-blooming lavender, or an encounter with a swallowtail laying its eggs in the fennel fronds. Even a minute or two in the garden slows me way down and calms my racing mind. As often as possible, I try to bring bits of the garden into our house and to our table. Lately, I've been clipping roses like a fiend and I've noticed that Otis and Lilah keep tucking petals into their tea. Hmmm.... I thought. Why not make a tea of just rose petals?

Rose Petal Tea might strike you as kinda fancy... but really, making it couldn't be easier. What could be more simple than pouring hot water over petals?



INGREDIENTS
  • 1 young, un-sprayed rose bloom, petals only
  • 2-3 cups hot water
  • optional: a handful of fresh raspberries

Toss rose petals into any glass container, even a large jam jar will do. Bring water to a boil and pour the hot water over the petals. Let them steep for 2-3 minutes only. (If you let the rose steep too long, the tea becomes bitter.) My kids particularly like this tea when we add a few raspberries to each glass before pouring the hot tea... making a tasty berry-rose infusion.

Serve tea right away. I think this lightly-fragrant, floral tea would be a charming drink to serve for a baby shower or afternoon tea. Or you could make a pot just for yourself. I'm sure you deserve it.

makes 6 small servings



53 comments:

  1. This is just lovely! I enjoy rosewater in a few different dishes, but never thought about making tea with actual rose petals. Gorgeous!

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  2. Thanks Ashley! I've been meaning to make my own rosewater for a while now and then my kids inspired me to make rose petal tea. So so simple and delish!
    xoxo
    E

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  3. Delightful and refreshing! I really like the idea. A pity I don't have a garden...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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    1. Rosa! Maybe ask a neighbor for a bloom... You only need one;)
      xo
      E

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  4. Oh my, what a lovely and unbelievably simple idea!!! :D i have never even thought about making rose petal tea..

    i planted a few new roses this year, but they still only have little buds. maybe i'll go and grab some petals from my neighbor's roses ;-)

    thanks a lot for the inspiration and have a lovely week!
    salma

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  5. Salma, thanks for your sweet comment. Huge smile here!
    The tea couldn't be easier, right? Simple pleasures... that's my mantra;)
    Wishing you a lovely week as well!
    xoxo
    E

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  6. What a lovely idea to make an infusion like that. So simple. Yet one sip makes you feel so special.

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    1. Carolyn, the tea really does feel festive, yet it's crazy simple! Ahhhh....
      xoxo
      E

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  7. Erin this looks so lovely! What a great video too! Congrats on your 18th wedding anniversary. That makes me super happy. Wishing you all well today <3
    xoa

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    1. Hey you! I had so much fun making the video. It's inspiring to try to work in a new medium. Now, I want to play more:)
      Thanks for the anniversary well-wishes. 18 years is a long time, eh?
      xoxo to you Ashley!
      E

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  8. What a beautiful tea - so simple and so simply perfect! Congrats on 18 years of marital bliss. Hubby and I celebrate 16 years this September - how time flies! The simple things in life are just the best and the more we can savor them the better in my book. Hope you stay cool during this mini hot spell we are having. Cheers! Lisa

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    1. Congrats to you Lisa on 16!! It does fly by doesn't it?
      Yep, we're trying to stay cool over here. I hope you can too:)
      xoxo
      E

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  9. Can't watch the video (must have something to do with the fact that I'm back in Amsterdam), but luckily I'm able to read the rest! Congrats on your anniversary and wishing you many loving years together! Also: that tea looks so elegant. Saved it and will try it for sure! xoxo

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    1. Denise, that's a bummer that the video isn't working for you. I'm new to Vimeo, etc.. and don't know its limits in other countries. I'll look into it:)
      Hope you're well, my friend!
      xo
      E

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  10. love the nick drake, it really goes with the may vibe that you mentioned above. such a hopeful-sounding song, you know? cheers to you and your clever tea-infusing kiddos! oxox

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    1. Emma, Nick Drake always does it for me:)
      Cheers to you too,
      xoxox
      E

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  11. i couldn't love this more, i want a rose petal tea right now! Happy mothers day and happy anniversary ... and i wish you happy memories of your little niece.

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    1. Dervla! I hope you had a good Mother's Day too. If only you lived nearer by... you could come over for rose petal tea:)
      I'd love that.
      xoxo
      E

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  12. Isn't it amazing that you can live like a King if you look for the simple things in life? I love the little cups and container to store them. Simple yet elegant. Wonderful pictures of serenity. Best to you.

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    1. SO true Oli! "Live like a king" is right... I try so hard to remind myself that slowing down almost always means discovering some sort of beautifully simple joy.
      Best to you as well,
      xoxo
      E

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  13. Stunning ! but what happened to your 'pin it' button. im on a small iPad and no longer have a permanent Pin on it.
    i rely on blogger to supply a pin it on the photo. they are so stunning i need them on my Pinterest board. for your edification ; Judith Q on pinterest.
    i adore your blog.

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  14. Hi Judith, Thanks for sweet comment! Sorry about not having a Pin It button on my photos...I'm a bit of a luddite over here:)

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  15. I'm so envious of your garden and of the fact that you can pick your own roses and use the petals for this beautiful tea. I loved your video Erin, I hope you make more in the future!
    Congratulations on your 18 years of marriage!!!

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  16. Magda, I'm so glad you liked the video... I feel like the learning curve with video is steep after all these years just doing stills, but I kinda love the challenge;) I think I'll play some more.
    Have a great week!
    xo
    E

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  17. So lovely (and such a great little video!). There's something just so peaceful and soothing about the very idea of rose tea. I hope you had a wonderful weekend of celebrations : )

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    1. Hey Kathryn! A sweet romantic notion infused into such a simple tea, right? It seemed just the thing for this moment.
      We had a really nice weekend. Busy, but so fun!
      xoxo
      E

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  18. atmoseatsMay 14, 2014

    Ah... in a hectic world and with days crammed with work and responsibilities, I plan to take two minutes to watch the video from time to time, to reconnect with beauty and peace and simple nature. Thanks for the meditation!

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    1. Atmoseats, so sweet! I have to say, I worried that the video might be a little boring and slow for some folks... meditative... I like that:)
      xo
      E

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  19. AnonymousMay 14, 2014

    Eighteen years, happy anniversary! This tea is so simple and elegant. Your photos are so beautiful and feel so spring-y! Loved the video, too :) Life in your world seems pretty, indeed!

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  20. AnonymousMay 15, 2014

    So simple and elegant - perfect for any afternoon!

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    Replies
    1. If only you could all come over for a cup today! xo

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  21. Walking the streets of Dublin yesterday I happened upon the most beautifully fragrant wild rose bush. I can only imagine rose petal tea is a wonderful, calming thing. I love roses-- after all, my name is Jessica Rose! Beautiful post and video, Erin.

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  22. Oh Jess, I hope Dublin is treating you guys right so far! I imagine it is stunningly green this time of year!
    I hear you about the wild roses... I've been wanting to make my own rosewater for while now, but I ended up making the tea. So easy! And I read that rose has a whole slew of medical benefits as well - no surprise:)
    Take care,
    E

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  23. AnonymousMay 16, 2014

    Can I come over?? Working in a school, let me tell you, the normal crazy is super crazy right now. I am off to chaperone Prom, I really need some of your tea! :)

    Lovely Erin. XO

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  24. I'd love to have you for tea:)
    Hang in there!

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  25. Aren't your photographs just beautiful, and I agree about a wander in the garden being the perfect soothing tonic.

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    1. Anna, isn't the power of nature amazing? It's magic!
      Hope you're well!
      xo
      E

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  26. It's amazing how wandering around outside, even just to pick a weed or two, can completely change a mood. And, then bringing in rose petals for a lovely tea would be a perfect way to settle back into the indoors!

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    1. Totally Lisa! Even a couple of minutes in the garden completely mellows me out. Such good medicine:))

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  27. How lovely! Everything about this post - the video, the rose petal tea, and the shot of your house (so pretty and sweet, love the vines climbing on the roof)...

    I've never done FRESH rose petals alone in a tea either - only added dried roses to darjeelings - but a fresh petal tea sounds wonderful.

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  28. What lovely idea! I bet it smells and tastes wonderful. Wish I could stop by for a glass :)

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    1. I'd love it you could stop by for a glass too, Renee! xoxo

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  29. Beautiful photos, video and recipe, Erin! Hope all is well with you, xx

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    1. Thanks Najwa! All well here... just busy busy end of the school year stuff. xoxo

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  30. Beautiful! I've pinned to my edible flowers board and I will definitely be trying this soon

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  31. Hello! I am currently planting my garden and I am searching for a climbing rose - and you seem to happen to have a really beautiful one! Would you mind telling what variety it is?
    Thanks so much! And your book is the next cookbook I'll buy - i only hope I can find the ingredients here in France!

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    1. Hi Laureline, our rose is a Sombreuil and I love it!
      And thanks for picking up my cookbook! Enjoy:)
      xo
      E

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    2. Thank you very much!

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So good to hear from you... I appreciate each and every note you leave for me!

Thanks,
E