Floral-infused water is a refreshing and beautiful way to enjoy the subtle flavors of edible flowers while staying hydrated. It’s popular to infuse water with cucumber, citrus, fruit and herbs. Though one highly delicious and beautiful addition that is largely missed in water infusions is the incorporation of flowers. Floral waters offer a delicate aroma and taste that elevate your beverage experience. Edible flowers make incredibly delicious water-infused beverages, especially when integrated with other fruits and herbs.
We began our floral water infusing years ago, with fresh lilacs from our backyard. To make, simply fill a quart jar with fresh lilac flowers (no leaves, stems, or bugs), and fill the jar with cold tap water. Allow the flavors to infuse overnight, strain the flavored water from the flowers and enjoy the floral water with ice.
Why Use Flowers in Water Infusions?
Drinking lilac-infused water is such a treat since there is no artificial flavoring that can come close to being as special or authentically incredible as the scent of fresh lilac flowers. This is the same principal with other flowers and brambles, like raspberries, as well.
How to Make Floral Infused Water
When making floral water, we typically add one to two cups of fruit, herbs and flowers (2 cups total of mixed ingredients) to a quart jar and fill it with tap water to the top of the jar. The mixture of ingredients is completely up to your personal preference. If you want less of a floral
flavor and instead prefer a fruitier flavor, use fewer blooms and more berries. Herbs are strong, so only a few leaves are recommended per quart. Infuse the flavors for 12 hours, or overnight, and strain the solids out, reserving the flavored water. Enjoy with ice. Garnish with more fresh fruit or blooms.
Infusing with Fresh vs. Dried Flowers
If you use dried fruits, flowers or herbs, use about half as much as you would use for fresh blooms.
Favorite Floral Infusion Combinations
- Fresh blueberries with sprigs of lavender (blooms closed)
- Fresh rose petals with raspberries or strawberries
- Fresh hibiscus with watermelon chunks
Another enjoyable floral delicacy is rose tea. Rose tea can be made from dried or fresh roses.
How to Make Rose Tea at Home
Yield: about 1 pint
Homemade Rose Tea Ingredients
2 ¼ cups of water
1.5 cups rose petals (fresh, cleaned and prepared) – If using dried rose petals, only use 2 tablespoons.
Homemade Rose Tea Directions
- In a small saucepan, bring 2 ¼ cups of water to a simmer.
- Add rose petals, remove from heat, and cover the saucepan with a lid.
- Allow the rose petals to steep for 25 minutes.
- Once the water has infused with the rose petals, strain out the solids, while reserving the rose tea in a heat-safe container, such as a pint canning jar.
- Add honey, maple syrup or lemon to the tea and enjoy.
- Cover and store any leftovers in the refrigerator, enjoy within a few days.
Safety Tips When Using Edible Flowers
Be sure to only use edible flowers when making infused water and tea. The best practice is to grow your own flowers so that you know they were not treated with any pesticides or other poisonous sprays. Specialty shops sometimes offer edible flowers for sale as well. If infusing with homegrown flowers, be sure not to harvest any from close to the road or from parts of the yard where pets use the restroom.
Floral Infused Water: Final Thoughts
Floral-infused water and homemade rose tea are delightful, refreshing ways to enjoy the natural flavors of edible flowers. With just a few safe practices, you can enjoy seasonal flowers in a whole new way—one sip at a time.
This article about rose tea and floral water was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
