9 Best Substitutes For Rose Water
Rose water is a key ingredient in so many dishes, but it is not always the easiest ingredient to find in grocery stores!
You can always choose to make your own rose water at home, but it might be too time-consuming (and complicated) — you could be looking for an easier substitute.
What are the best substitutes for rose water? The best substitute for rose water will depend on the dish or baked goods you are making, but some of the best substitutes include rose essence, orange flower water, hibiscus water, vanilla extract, lavender, almond extract, lemon juice, and more!
So, if you are looking for a backup ingredient to keep to use in place of rose water, read on to find the best options out there, and how they can be used in place of rose water in different dishes — plus how to make rose water at home!
What Is Rose Water?
Before we go on to find out the best substitutes for rose water, it is helpful to know what rose water is, and why it is used in various recipes.
Rose water is made through the distillation of rose petals, and it is popular in many different cuisines, such as Middle Eastern, French, and Mediterranean cuisines.
The addition of rose water to a dish brings about a fruity, floral flavor, which is delicate. It can be used in both sweet baked goods and savory dishes.
It is not an overpowering flavor at all, but it does add flowery flavors to a dish that can really highlight the other ingredients.
The Best Substitutes For Rose Water
Take a read through the below substitutes for rose water to find the one that would be best for you, but keep in mind the recipe that you are using the substitute in, and the flavors you want to achieve with the substitute.
1. Rose Essence
Rose essence is possibly the best substitute for rose water when it comes to getting as close to the flavor as possible.
As it is an essence, rose essence is a much more concentrated version of rose water, so you do need to keep this in mind when adding it to a dish.
You will only need a tiny amount of rose essence compared to how much rose water you would have used.
Generally, rose essence can be up to four times more potent than rose water, so start by adding in a fourth of the amount. You can always add in more if you want a stronger flavor, but add in a small amount first, taste, and go from there.
The benefit of using rose essence is that a small bottle will go a really long way, and it still gives you that rose blossom aroma that you would get from rose water.
2. Orange Flower Water
Orange flower water is created much the same way that rose water is made, by crushing orange flowers into a paste and distilling it with water. This creates fruity, aromatic water that can give a strong floral flavor to food.
While orange flower water will obviously have a different flavor than rose water, it is still full of a blossom flavor and can add a flowery flavor to dishes.
It is a popular ingredient used in Middle Easter, Mediterranean, Spanish, African and French cuisine, similar to rose water.
The advantage is that orange flower water has a very similar intensity compared to rose water, so you can use it in the same quantities, and achieve a very similar flavor.
Remember as well that orange flower water is made from orange flowers, and not the fruit, so it is still floral.
The flavor and intensity of orange flower water are comparable to that of rose water, which is what makes it such a great substitute!
3. Hibiscus Water
Hibiscus water, otherwise known as Jamaica flower water, is a great substitute for rose water. It has a floral scent and is light in flavor, just like rose water, but it is important to understand that the flavors will be slightly different.
The benefit of using hibiscus water is that it has the same flavor intensity as rose water, so you can use it on a one-to-one ratio as a substitute for rose water, but only if you do not mind a slight change in flavor.
Even though hibiscus has a different flavor than rose water, it is still floral and perfume-like and adds this to the recipe.
Hibiscus water can also add a slight sweetness to a dish too, just like rose water, and it can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
Keep in mind as well that hibiscus water can add a slight Caribbean taste to your food — which is never a bad thing!
4. Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is a pantry item that you likely have sitting in your cupboard already, which is what makes it such a convenient substitute for rose water!
Using vanilla extract will give a similar aroma and flavor compared to rose water, but it does have more sweetness and a slightly deeper scent too.
Because of this, you will have to use less vanilla extract than you would have used rose water, so it is not too overpowering.
Vanilla extract works best as a substitute for rose water when making sweet baked goods, as it does add sweetness to different recipes, and the vanilla aroma is beautiful with sweet delicacies.
Once again, as an extract is stronger than rose water might be, start by using a quarter of the amount and build your way up from there. It is much easier to add more in than it is to take some out!
You might even find that you prefer the flavor of vanilla essence in baked goods compared to rose water.
5. Lavender Essence
Lavender and cooking might not be two words you put together, as lavender is a common scent used in the household, but lavender blossoms can be used to make lavender essence, which is beautiful when added to certain dishes.
When lavender blossoms are concentrated into an essence, it creates a floral aroma and flavor that is very similar to that of rose water.
The floral flavor and aroma are not as commonly used in food as rose water, but they can work well as a substitute. The scent of lavender can be quite strong, especially compared to rose water.
It is best used when baking sweet goods, as it can add some sweetness to the dish too, and the delicate lavender flavor pairs well with baked items.
We recommend using less than you would have used rose water, just so that it is not too overwhelming and earthy — use it mainly as a substitute in desserts and beverages that could use a flowery addition.
6. Almond Extract
Almond extract is another popular ingredient found in pantries, and like vanilla essence, you might have some ready to use at home.
Using almond extract in a meal brings a sweet, almond flavor to the dish, and it is a popular ingredient used in Middle Eastern cuisine.
While it is not made with florals, almond extract still has a beautiful aroma and flavor to it, and this makes it fairly similar to rose water.
When using almond extract in place of rose water, keep in mind that almond extract is stronger and more concentrated than rose water.
You should start out using quite a bit less, especially to avoid the almond flavor becoming too overwhelming. Use about a quarter of the amount of almond essence that you would have used of rose water, then taste from there.
The scent and flavor of almond essence can become overwhelming very quickly, and you do not want that to ruin your dish!
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice and rose water are two fairly different ingredients, but the one thing they have in common is that they both add a kick of fruitiness to a dish, whether it be a sweet dessert or a savory dish.
The citrus flavor brought by lemon juice is different from rose water, but the tangy and sweet flavor can be added gently to a dish to not be too overwhelming.
One of the best ways to use lemon juice in place of rose water is to add some sugar to it, so it has extra sweetness and not be overly citrus.
Add lemon juice slowly to a dish, and taste as you go, as you might add in too much lemon juice and it could change the flavor of the dish too much to be enjoyable.
Keep in mind as well that the dish will take on a more citrus flavor compared to the floral aroma that rose water would have given.
This can work well in many different recipes, mainly in savory dishes, so it should not be too bad, especially if you add in some sugar to balance it out.
8. Cardamom
Cardamom is a spice used for sweet and savory dishes, and for food and beverages.
It does not have an extremely similar taste to rose water, but it does have a herbal flavor that can bring the same aromatic effect as rose water.
It is a good idea to use cardamom as a substitute for rose water when making savory meat or chicken dishes, as it can be complimented well with other herbs and spices — you won’t even notice the rose water missing.
Cardamom is also fairly easy to come across, as it is a popular spice used in Indian cuisine, so it is possibly easier to find compared to rose water.
To use cardamom in place of rose water, you can use a few cardamom pods for flavoring, and the dish should not take on too strong of a flavor, as it is a slightly softer aroma and flavor compared to rose water.
9. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another spice that is a great substitute for rose water, and it is a common ingredient that you probably have at home already — if not, you will be able to source it easily at your local store.
The flavor of cinnamon is quite distinct, but used correctly, it can give a similar effect to that of rose water, making it a suitable substitute.
The woody, sweet flavor of cinnamon can be slightly overwhelming if too much is used, so you should just add in a small amount to start, and then build up from there.
One of the reasons why cinnamon works well in place of rose water is because it has a natural sweetness to it, just like rose water, so you do not need to add any additional sweetener to a recipe to make up for the lack of rose water.
However, keep in mind that this works best with sweeter recipes, and you might have to balance it out with some savory spices when using it in a savory dish.
How To Make Rose Water
If you do not have any rose water at home, and you do not want to use a substitute, then you could try to make your own rose water at home.
Cold-pressing rose water is the correct way to do it, but you might not have the time and equipment necessary for this, so hot-infusing rose water is a better option.
Using the hot infusion method is a quick way to make rose water at home — you just need to have some access to fresh rose petals!
Ingredients
- Suitably sized bottle
- 2 cups fresh rose petals
- 2 cups water
Instructions
1. Place a medium size pan on the stovetop, then add the rose petals and the water.
2. Cover the pan with a lid to prevent the water from evaporating too quickly.
3. Turn the heat to low — you want to warm up the water and petals, not burn the petals.
4. Wait until the water has reduced by half.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool down to room temperature.
6. Pour out the rose water into a sieve over another bowl — this will remove the petals from the water and strain the rose water essence.
7. Place the rose water in a clear, clean container and keep it in the fridge.
Rose Water Recipe
If you do not have any rose water at home, and you do not want to use a substitute, then you could try to make your own rose water at home. Using the hot infusion method is a quick way to make rose water at home, but you just need to have some access to fresh rose petals!
Ingredients
- Suitably sized bottle
- 2 cups fresh rose petals
- 2 cups water
Instructions
1. Place a medium size pan on the stovetop, then add the rose petals and the water.
2. Cover the pan with a lid to prevent the water from evaporating too quickly.
3. Turn the heat to low — you want to warm up the water and petals, not burn the petals.
4. Wait until the water has reduced by half.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool down to room temperature.
6. Pour out the rose water into a sieve over another bowl — this will remove the petals from the water and strain the rose water essence.
7. Place the rose water in a clear, clean container and keep it in the fridge.
Final Thoughts
While rose water has a unique floral essence and aroma, it can sometimes be difficult to source.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need rose water, but don’t have any (or don’t want to make any), take a look at the above substitutes.
When choosing the substitute to use in place of rose water, keep in mind what dish you are making, whether it is sweet or savory, and the flavors you want to achieve (or avoid) in your dish.
Hopefully, there should be a suitable substitute for you in the list above, so you can experiment with different flavors and aromas!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve learned all about rose water, its best substitutes, and how to make rose water at home, here are some additional questions that we thought you might have.
Does rose water expire?
Homemade rose water does not have a very long shelf life, and it can only be kept at room temperature for up to seven days. If kept in the fridge, then the rose water can be kept for up to a month.
You can also freeze rose water, which allows it to stay fresh for up to a year.
What does rose water taste like?
Rose water has a very floral flavor that is not too sweet and is not very savory either. It has a rose aroma which adds quite a bit of depth to a dish.
