You can concentrate rose water by using a distillation method that collects rose-infused condensation.
The Distillation Method for Concentrated Rose Water
Here's a breakdown of the method to concentrate rose water, based on the provided reference:
Steps to Concentrate Rose Water:
- Prepare your pot and bowl: Get a large pot with a lid, a heat-safe bowl, and a supply of fresh rose petals and distilled water.
- Arrange the petals: Place the rose petals inside the pot, creating a layer around the bowl. This ensures that the steam infused with rose essence will properly condense.
- Add the distilled water: Pour the distilled water into the bottom of the pot, taking care not to get any water directly into the bowl. The water should only be in the outer part of the pot, away from the bowl.
- Start the distillation: Place the lid on the pot and bring the water to a gentle simmer over a low heat.
- Collect the condensation: As the water simmers, steam will rise, carrying the rose essence. This infused steam will condense on the underside of the pot's lid.
- Collect the concentrated rose water: The rose-infused condensation will then drip down into the clean bowl. This collected liquid is your concentrated rose water.
- The steam will naturally collect and drip down because the bowl is slightly lower than the base of the lid.
Why this method works
This technique leverages the process of distillation:
- The steam carries the volatile compounds from the rose petals.
- When the steam condenses, it returns to a liquid state, creating a concentrated rose water because it is the essence only, without the bulk of the water present.
Additional Notes
- Make sure the bowl you use is heat-safe, as it will be placed inside the hot pot.
- Using distilled water ensures the purity of the final rose water.
- This method allows for the collection of highly concentrated rose water by preventing water from mixing directly with the condensation.
- The reference explicitly states: Place petals into the pot and around the bowl before adding the distilled water. Make sure you don't get distilled water directly into your bowl. The rose-infused condensation will collect on the underside of the pot lid, then drip down inside the clean bowl, giving you pure, concentrated rose water.