Recipe: Wild Rose Granita

Growing up, my mom would make lemon granita. It was my favorite summer treat. She would pull the baking dish out of the freezer with a thin layer of frozen lemonade at the bottom and begin to scratch at it with a fork until it was perfectly fluffed up ice. She'd top it with a few raspberries, and it was the perfect summer dessert. 

wild rose granita

I thought I would give it a go with Wild Rose. Wild Rose, particularly Nootka Rose is one of my favorite wild plants to work with. I love visiting the shores of rivers or mountain roadsides in June to carefully pluck off the petals. 

Rose is astringent, cooling, and calming. It's great for hot, inflamed, and irritated conditions. I often pour hot water over the fresh petals, let it steep, and then chill the liquid in the refrigerator to use as an eyewash during allergy season. It so quickly calms down red and itchy eyes. Dried petals are great in a bedtime tea or a blend for a grieving heart. 

The sweetly floral and distinct taste of rose mirrors the scent, and it is perfectly captured in this Summer Rose Granita. 

I don't have a precise recipe for this, so you're just going to have to trust yourself with this simple process and even simpler ingredient list. 

Summer Rose Granita

Ingredients

• fresh (or dried) wild rose petals (be sure you're harvesting from a clean, pesticide-free environment)

• pure cane sugar

• 1-3 lemons

  
  

Instructions

• Heat water to an almost-boil and pour over the top of your rose petals. Cover quickly with a lid and let steep for 10-15 minutes.

• Add pure cane sugar to taste and whisk it to dissolve while the water is still hot.

• Let the mixture cool to room temperature.

• Juice your lemons and add the juice to the mixture.

• Strain out the petals and pour the liquid into a flat-bottomed container (baking dish, cookie sheet, pyrex, etc).

• Place in the freezer for at least 24 hours

• Remove and use a fork to lightly scrape the surface of the ice until it's nice and fluffy.

• Serve with lemon zest and enjoy!