‘Our bouquets have always looked good enough to eat – but now they are more than just a feast for the eyes,’ says our founder Rosebie Morton. ‘As well as including herbs in our arrangements to provide aroma and texture, we are now growing a range of edible roses that will form the centrepiece an edible bouquet.’
The rosaceae family encompasses not only roses but also several delicious fruits, including apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, raspberries and strawberries. So perhaps it’s not surprising that roses can be good to eat. Packed with vitamin C, rosehip syrup is hailed as reducing the discomfort of osteoarthritis as well as boosting the immune system to fight off colds and other viruses. And rose petals have been used for centuries to flavour teas, sweets, pastries and sauces.
Read on to find out more about the roses we are growing and how you might use them in the kitchen.
Eveline Wild is an acclaimed patissier and confectioner, and the rose named after her has a fruity fragrance and delicate, sweet taste. Eveline herself thought it worked best in combination with chocolate, but its notes of honey and apricot complement virtually any dessert. A delicate peach colour, its petals work best used fresh to make the most of its decorative qualities and ensure a fuller flavour.
Of course, Dutch ice-cream maestro Theo Clevers created a new flavour of ice-cream around the rose that bears his name, and its strawberry aroma makes it an ideal companion to almost any sweet treat, from cakes and pastries to fruit salads and mousses. A vibrant deep pink, with each bloom made up of more than 130 petals, it looks as good as it tastes.
Named for a Dutch actor and singer, this glorious pink rose has the sweet taste of raspberries and a fruity fragrance. It can be used fresh to decorate cakes, added to desserts, salads, jams and juices or dried for teas.
Food writer and chef Nadia Zerouali specialises in Middle Eastern cuisine, and this rose works wonderfully as a substitute for lemongrass in Arab and Mediterranean stews or fish dishes. With a refreshingly citrus flavour, a silky texture and the colours of sunshine, the petals add a welcome vibrancy and tang to both savoury and sweet treats.
Our new Edible Bouquet featuring edible roses and herbs grown on our sustainable Hampshire farm are available for next-day delivery around the UK. Click here to find out more.
