Rosewater Lemonade: A Taste of Oman

Delight your tastebuds with the delicate floral flavour of rosewater lemonade from Oman. Sipping a chilled glass of this mysteriously scented lemonade on a hot summer day will transport you to far-off exotic locales. It's heavenly and refreshing.

This month, for our Eat the World recipe challenge, we travel to the Middle Eastern country of Oman (officially the Sultinate of Oman), located on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. This ancient country has seen major growth over the last 50 years, upgrading its economy and opening its doors to tourism with welcoming arms. Although it has a very hot, dry climate, Oman boasts an enticing array of spectacular destinations and experiences, from rugged inland mountain locales to stunning beaches and water adventures.

The cuisine of Oman is multicultural, since it was built on trade routes along the ancient spice road, and it reflects influences from Arabia, India, Asia, Iran, Pakistan, Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Within Oman, the cuisine also varies from region to region. Its diet rich in spices and curry flavours, although in general the cuisine is less spicy than that of its Arab neighbours. Abundant fresh fish, seafood, and meat are the mainstay of Omani cuisine, with beautifully spiced rice dishes forming the core. Many fruits are grown in Oman, with dates being essential to the Omani diet and culture, offered to all guests and at every meal.

Oman is also a producer of rosewater, distilled from the petals of the highly scented and beautiful damask roses which thrive in the cool, mountainous areas inland. This pure essence of rose petals is distilled by ancient methods from the hand-harvested blossoms that grow on the steeply terraced hillsides of Jebel Akhdar (the Green Mountains). Rosewater is used in Muslim cultures for cleansing before prayer, it is made into skincare and cosmetic products, is taken internally for health purposes, and is used as a wonderfully delicate and fragrant addition to many different dishes in the Middle East and around the world. (I remember my mom always having rosewater in the cupboard in a small brown glass bottle, which years ago could only be bought at the pharmacy, to use for special German baking recipes.)

I love using rosewater. Its delicate floral notes enhance many foods or drinks that contain fruits. A teaspoon or two in a fresh fruit salad, a fruit crisp, or a fruit-filled cake adds a delightfully mysterious note, and it elevates many fruit and berry jams or preserves to new heights. Rosewater has a special affinity with almonds and with saskatoon berries, like in these saskatoon preserves or saskatoon jelly.

Try adding rosewater to fresh lemonade. Wow! You will be blown away.

The addition of this beautifully floral flavour turns ordinary lemonade into an exotic beverage that tastes of the summer sun distilled into a glass. Golden sips of this sweet, tangy, rosy nectar take you on a journey to far-off lands of sunshine and flowers.

Check out all the wonderful Omani dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!

Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Omani Bread (Khubz Ragag)
Culinary Cam: Squid Mishkak and Majboos
Sneha’s Recipe: Khabeesa- Oman
Kitchen Frau: Rosewater Lemonade
A Day in the Life on the Farm: Chicken Mishkak

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Guten Appetit!