Rose Distillation
Rose distillation is a historic craft in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which became renowned in Taif Governorate, part of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Province. It is a seasonal occupation that begins at a specific time of the year and continues for about a month and a half, coinciding with the rose-harvest season in the governorate. It is considered one of the long-established crafts that has continued to this day to produce rose water and rose oil. This activity is usually accompanied by the rose season (formerly the Taif Rose Festival) which is held annually in the governorate.
Stages of rose distillation
The rose’s journey before distillation begins with planting the rose tree in a known season, widely recognised by farmers as the “taraf season”. It is usually between January 10 to 25 according to the Gregorian calendar. When the harvest season arrives, farmers begin picking the roses and preparing them for the distillation process, taking care to pick the roses early in the morning, as it is the optimal time for picking.
After the picking stage ends, the roses pass through several stages, starting with collecting and weighing the roses to determine the appropriate quantities for distillation, then preparing them and transporting them to distillation facilities. They are then placed in large, tightly sealed copper vessels that hold between 10,000 and 12,000 roses, preventing air from leaking out to preserve the quality of the final product. The copper vessels are then heated and the distillation begins, lasting about four hours until it is complete.
Rose distillation season
The rose distillation season begins in mid-March and continues until the end of April, during which large quantities are selected from the 550 million roses produced annually by Taif’s rose farms, and transported to specialised factories to produce rose water and rose oil.
Taif rose products
After the distillation process is complete, several substances are extracted from the distillation flasks, including: rose oil, which is called “Dehn Al-ward”, in addition to rose water, the pure clear extract of which is called “Al-arous” (“the bride”), due to its clarity, high quality and classification as first grade. After that come rose water and rose oil of the second and third grades. Rose products after distillation are filled into special flasks, in preparation for marketing and selling them.
Sources
Ministry of Culture.
Taif Chamber.
Saudi Press Agency.
National Programme for Handicrafts and Traditional Industries.