Lately, I’ve been experimenting with iced teas. I’ve found it’s great to have teas in the refrigerator to satisfy our thirst. Then we don’t reach for fruit juice quite as often.

This month, since the roses have been in bloom near our house I’ve been experimenting with some rose drinks and have found two that I like quite a bit - rose petal julep and rose hip iced tea with honey.

You can use any kind of fragrant rose petals, BUT BEWARE of roses that are sprayed with herbicides. So make sure you 1) are gathering where you have permission to gather and 2) they are not sprayed with anything. Pictured here is our local wild rose from the park down the street.

Rose Petal Julep

To make the julep, gather enough roses to fill a mason jar with lightly packed flowers.

Fill the jar with cool water and let it sit for about an hour.

Strain out the flowers and add lemon juice and honey to taste.

Add a few of the petals back in for beauty, sit outside in the sun and enjoy your refreshing treat!

Rose Hip Iced Tea

To make the rose hip tea, I used dried rose hips.

Put 4 tablespoons of hips in a half-gallon jar, and then fill the jar with boiling water.

Let it steep for about 20 minutes.

Strain and add honey to taste.

I added 2 tablespoons for this jar.

Refrigerate and enjoy when cold.

Roses provide wonderful headache relief and can also help with insomnia, so enjoy these two drinks as soothing, calming brews as well.

Do you need dried organic Rose Hips?
Go to iWantHerbs.com.

Enjoy!

-Kimberly