Conserve of Roses in the Italian Manner is a traditional Elizabethan recipe for making a conserve from rose flowers and sugar chopped and mixed together in a jar. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Elizabethan version of: Conserve of Roses in the Italian Manner.
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Original Recipe
Conserve of Roses in the Italian Manner (from The Queen's Closet Opened [London, 1655])
Take fresh red Roses not quite ripe, beat them in a stone Mortar, mix them with double their weight of Sugar, and put them in a glass close stopped, being not full, let them remain before you use them three moneths, stirring of them once a day. The Vertue.
The Stomach, Heart, and Bowels it cooleth, and hindereth vapours, the spiting of blood and corruption for the most part (being cold) it helpeth. It will keep many years.
Modern Redaction
This is a very unusual and highly-scented preserve with an unusual but very pleasant flavour. For best effect you should choose deep red, heavily-scented roses (damask roses are perfect).
Ingredients:
200g roses (chose those that are not completely open)
400g caster sugar
Method:
Trim the bases and any green bits from the roses then pound in a mortar or chop in a food processor. Add the sugar and pound into the roses then pack into a clean and sterilized jar.
Seal the lid tightly and set aside for three months in a cool, dry, cupboard before use.
