A Rose is a Rose - unless its Jelly!

Now that I have finished whining about things - lets do something fun!  With Valentines day coming right up it is always nice to have a gift to make that is easy, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and isn't an overdone candy gift!  Not that I don't like candy but sometimes you need something that is not an overly romantic gift as well - Rose Petal Jelly fits that bill perfectly!  Not only is it my 13 year olds favorite jelly, it is really fast and easy to make!

Below picture is Rose de Rescht, a lovely fragrant shrub rose that I got about 3 years ago from Richters Herbs in Canada.  www.richtersherbs.com  This rose is a perfect choice for rose petal jelly, and it dries very well for this use.  I have also used Rosa Rugosa, and the white petals of Rosa Alba Semi-Plenins, even wild roses.  The red and pink fragrant roses work best for this as they add beautiful color to your jelly.  The white petals work well for flavor but the color is much lighter. Any of these will also work wonderfully for potpourri!







Harvest the rose petals just before the rose has gone by.  You can also cut the roses and harvest them as they fall on your table!  Dry as you would any flower or herb, making sure you get them dry, dry, dry!  If there is any moisture in them, they will mold and you will not be able to use them for anything.  I store mine in a jar with a gasket and locking lid (see below).  You can use fresh petals for the jelly also if you are making the jelly in summer season.  If you don't have any dried petals you can get them at your local health food/herb store.  Make sure you get food grade petals that have not been treated with any chemical fragrances.  The petals in this jar are mostly Rosa Alba Semi Plenins (a white rose also from Richters).  You can see below that the petals are a mix of red and white petals - but all are very fragrant.

ROSE PETAL JELLY

3 1/2 C. water (Apple juice works great as well)

1 Cup fresh fragrant rose petals or 1/3 C. food grade dried rose petals (red or pink ones work best for good color)

2 whole cinnamon stick and/or cloves (optional - just not at my house)

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice (preferably fresh)

1 box (1 3/4 oz) powdered pectin

4 C. Sugar

Bring the water to a boil in a small sauce pan and stir in the rose petals and the clove/cinnamon if you are using them. Remove from heat and let steep for about 10 minutes as if you were making tea.

Strain the tea into a deep kettle, discarding the solids.  Stir in the lemon juice and pectin and continue stirring until the pectin is dissolved.

Bring the mixture back to a hard boil and add the sugar.  When it once again returns to a hard boil, time for two full minutes stirring constantly.  Skim off any foam and put hot product into hot jars and seal using a hot water bath or the quick flip method.

Total time is about 1 1/2 hours and it makes about 7 half-pint jars.  I have not tried to double this recipe so I make no promises as to how that will go.

I like to use the small half-pint jars for this as it makes for a nice sized gift.  Add a ribbon, some hearts, a fabric ring, or just a fancy label to the jar and you have a wonderful, tasty, Valentines gift, for girls or boys!  Have fun and have a happy Valentines Day!

After making this recipe again using liquid pectin - it DOES NOT WORK!  You must use powdered pectin!  Don't know why - the liquid just does not jell!