Quick Answer
No, rose syrup and rose water are not the same thing. While both are made from rose petals, rose syrup is a concentrated, sweetened liquid made by boiling rose petals in sugar syrup. Rose water is created by steam distilling rose petals in water and has a much lighter, more delicate flavor.
What is Rose Syrup?
Rose syrup, sometimes called rose cordial or rose concentrate, is a thick, sweet syrup made by infusing rose petals in heated simple syrup or honey. The petals impart their distinctive rose flavor into the sugar solution. Rose syrup has a very intense, concentrated rose taste and deep pinkish-red color.
To make rose syrup, fresh or dried fragrant rose petals, preferably from Damask roses, are combined with equal parts sugar and water to create a simple syrup. The mixture is slowly brought to a gentle boil and then removed from the heat. The rose petals steep in the hot syrup for anywhere from 24 hours to 1 week. The longer the steeping time, the stronger the rose flavor will become.
Once fully infused, the rose petal simple syrup is strained through a cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve to remove the solids. The finished rose syrup can be consumed as is or diluted with water to taste. It has a smooth, velvety texture and intense floral rose notes. A small amount of lemon juice or citric acid is sometimes added to help stabilize the color and enhance the brightness of the rose flavor.
Uses for Rose Syrup
Rose syrup has a very concentrated, perfumed rose taste that is too strong for most people to consume on its own. It is typically diluted or used as an ingredient to add a pronounced rose flavor to beverages, desserts, pastries, and more:
- Add to tea, lemonade, or cocktails
- Sweeten yogurt, ice cream, rice pudding, or other desserts
- Flavor cakes, cookies, panna cotta, soufflés, and custards
- Drizzle on scones, pancakes, waffles, or crepes
- Mix with milk for rose-flavored lattes
- Blend into smoothies, milkshakes, and ice pops
- Stir into fresh fruit salads or fruit compotes
- Mix with champagne or sparkling wine for rose spritzers
The strong floral aroma and pretty pink color from the rose syrup also make it a beautiful addition to cocktails, punches, and mocktails.
What is Rose Water?
Rose water is a fragrant liquid made by hydrodistilling fresh rose petals in water. It has a much lighter, more delicate rose scent than rose syrup. The most common method used to make rose water is steam distillation.
Fresh rose petals, usually from Damask roses, are placed in a still along with water. The still is then heated, causing the water and rose essence to evaporate and rise upward where it condenses in a collection chamber. This condensation collects as hydrosol or floral water that contains the aromatic compounds from the rose petals.
Compared to rose syrup, rose water undergoes a much gentler process with no heat or sugar added. This preserves the more subtle, sophisticated rose fragrance. Rose water has a very pale pink tint and smooth, water-like consistency.
The main producers of rose water are Iran, India, and Bulgaria which have the ideal climate and rose varieties for extraction of the scent. Rose water has been popular for centuries in Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine as well as in perfumery.
Uses for Rose Water
The light, refreshing taste and floral aroma of rose water lend themselves well for both culinary and cosmetic uses:
- Add to drinks like lemonade, tea, lassi, and cocktails
- Use to flavor desserts like rice pudding, ice cream, Turkish delight, gulab jamun, and falooda
- Combine with fruits like mangos, berries, peaches, or melons
- Splash on fresh fruit salads or over slices of cucumber
- Pour over yogurts, custards, and panna cotta
- Spritz over scones, cakes, and pastries
- Mix into smoothies, milkshakes, and ice pops
- Add to syrups, jams, and vinaigrettes
- Brush over grilled meats like lamb, chicken, and fish
- Spray on facial toner, rose water mist, baths, and body lotions
A little bit of rose water goes a long way since it has such a light, delicate flavor. It’s best added drop by drop until the desired taste is reached.
Differences Between Rose Syrup and Rose Water
While both rose syrup and rose water are derived from rose petals, there are several key differences between them:
Ingredients
- Rose syrup – Made by infusing rose petals in heated simple syrup or honey
- Rose water – Made by distilling rose petals in water
Process
- Rose syrup – Rose petals are boiled in sugar syrup to extract flavor
- Rose water – Rose petals are steam distilled at a lower temperature
Flavor Concentration
- Rose syrup – Has a very concentrated, intense rose flavor
- Rose water – Has a much lighter, more subtle rose taste
Sweetness
- Rose syrup – Is very sweet due to added sugar
- Rose water – Has no sugar added so not sweet at all
Usage
- Rose syrup – Used sparingly as a flavoring due to its potency
- Rose water – Often added liberally since it’s delicate in flavor
Color
- Rose syrup – Deep pinkish-red hue
- Rose water – Very pale pink tint
Can You Substitute Rose Water for Rose Syrup?
Rose water cannot adequately replace rose syrup in recipes because of its much weaker rose flavor and lack of sweetness. If rose syrup is unavailable, it’s better to substitute with another flower-infused syrup like orange blossom, lavender, or elderflower rather than rose water.
If using rose water as an emergency substitute, keep in mind:
- Use 2-3 times the amount of rose water to match the intensity of rose syrup
- Increase other liquids in the recipe to thin out the consistency
- Add more sugar or sweetener to make up for the lost sweetness
- Adjust other ingredients like citrus juice or almond extract to enhance the rose flavor
- The final dessert or drink will have a much lighter, subtler rose taste
For savory applications, rose water can sometimes work as a 1:1 replacement for rose syrup, especially if mixed into a vinaigrette, syrup, or sauce that already contains acid, sweetener, and strong herbs and spices.
Can You Substitute Rose Syrup for Rose Water?
Rose syrup should not be substituted for rose water in recipes. Since rose syrup is so much more concentrated in flavor, using it inplace of rose water will result in an extremely overpowering, perfume-y rose taste.
Even just a teaspoon of rose syrup could be enough to overwhelm a entire dish or beverage expecting delicate rose water. The syrup may also lend unwanted thickness, color, and sweetness.
If rose water is not available, it would be better to leave it out altogether or replace it with orange blossom water or a very small amount of diluted rose syrup mixed with water to approximate the lighter flavor.
Storing and Shelf Life
Both rose syrup and rose water should be stored in airtight bottles or containers in the refrigerator after opening. Kept chilled, they will last:
- Rose syrup – About 6 months
- Rose water – About 1 year
Properly stored, unopened bottles of rose syrup and rose water can be kept in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1-2 years. Always check for any mold, fermentation, or color changes before using. Discard if any off smells or flavors develop.
For longest shelf life, make small batches of homemade rose syrup or rose water to store in the refrigerator and use up quickly. Commercially prepared versions often contain preservatives for stability at room temperature.
Where to Buy Rose Syrup and Rose Water
Both rose water and rose syrup can be found online or in specialty markets like:
- Middle Eastern grocery stores
- Indian markets
- Health food stores
- Gourmet food shops
Be sure to check the ingredients when purchasing rose water. Some commercial brands contain synthetic rose fragrance and flavorings instead of real rose extract. Look for 100% natural rose hydrosol for the best flavor.
Rose syrup is less commonly available pre-made but can be purchased from some specialty producers. For the freshest, homemade taste, try making your own rose syrup using fresh or dried organic roses.
Popular Brands
Rose Water Brands
Some trusted rose water brands include:
- Cortas
- Heritage Store Rosewater
- King of Flowers
- Morning Drop Farm
- Leila Lou
- AROMAHU Rose Water
Rose Syrup Brands
While less common, some specialty rose syrup brands to look for include:
- Monin Rose Syrup
- Steenbergs Rose Syrup
- Botanical Kitchen Rose Syrup
- Belvoir Rose Syrup
Certain Middle Eastern brands like Cortas also produce rose syrups. Check international markets or online specialty retailers to find.
How to Make Your Own
DIY Rose Syrup Recipe
- 2 cups lightly packed fresh fragrant rose petals or 1 cup dried petals
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
- Rinse rose petals and pat dry. Remove any stems, leaves, or thorns.
- Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir to dissolve sugar.
- Remove from heat and add rose petals. Cover and let steep 8-12 hours.
- Strain syrup through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a jar or bottle.
- Press petals to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard petals.
- Refrigerate rose syrup for up to 6 months.
DIY Rose Water Recipe
- 2 cups lightly packed fresh fragrant rose petals or 1 cup dried petals
- 4 cups distilled water
- Rinse rose petals and pat dry. Remove any stems, leaves, or thorns.
- Bring water to a boil in a pot. Remove from heat.
- Add rose petals and cover pot. Allow to steep overnight.
- Transfer rose petal water to a still or double boiler. Heat to boiling.
- Collect the distilled rose water vapor in a clean jar. Discard remaining petals.
- Store rose water in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.
Making your own rose syrup or rose water allows you to customize the floral flavor to your tastes. Experiment with different rose varieties, steeping times, and petal amounts until you achieve the desired concentration.
Conclusion
In summary, rose syrup and rose water both add lovely rose flavor to recipes but ultimately are very different products. While rose water offers an elegant, delicate taste, rose syrup provides a bold, perfumed rose presence. When swapping one for the other, huge adjustments to the sweetness, concentration, and other supporting flavors would be required. Each brings its own unique charm to drinks, desserts, and cosmetics. Hopefully this guide has illuminated some of the key distinctions between these two popular rose ingredients.
