Omani rose water often used to flavour dishes, beverages and to add a hint of that exotic floral fragrance to hot and cold beverages is popular all around the world. Rose bushes, the source of this renowned Omani rose essence is cultivated in the green mountains of Al Jabal al Akhdar.
The dark crimson breakout of fully grown roses adorned among the rustic landscape of the mountains in April (the harvesting season) is a stunning sight and is truly one of the major attractions in Oman. Pickers are busy plucking full blown rose harvest from dawn every day during the season. Said harvest is gathered in a bundle to a sheet of cloth and taken to the traditional rose extraction places placed in the area.
Visit a local extraction spot to witness the wonderful rituals involved in the process of making Omani rose essence. Extraction centres are placed all over the district, it won’t be a difficult task to find one within the easy reach from locale hotels such as Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort.
Rose water is tremendously cherished by locales. It is believed to bring good luck and a dash of this sweet essence is added to everything, including food and drinks as a habit. The extraction process is rather primitive as essence makers tend to stick to old customs and methodologies, even when modern extraction technologies have been proposed by the government.
Petals are stuffed out into an earthen pot and a metal container is placed at the bottom, the whole thing is sealed with a hearth, which is heated for two hours’ tops as the essence condenses into the metal container. The condensate is cooled and filtered a several times until it is a clear liquid.
Over hundreds of people are involved in the rose essence manufacturing business thus the rose mountains at Al Jabal al Akhdar will forever bloom in its colourful glory.
Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world.
