Dried Rose Petals and Rosebuds

Small, dried, fragrant rosebuds are popular eastern Mediterranean flavorings, and not just for sweet dishes. They are added to spice mixtures that flavor stews or soups in Iran, the broader Middle East, and the Maghreb (the Arab areas of North Africa). “Olive Oil Scented with Roses” was found inscribed on clay tablets dating from about the thirteenth century BC, unearthed in the palaces of Knossos, Crete. Although it is not clear if the ancient Greeks used that oil in foods or for cosmetic purposes, we know that the Byzantines liked to add rose water with garum, a fermented fish sauce, to their meat and game dishes.