Rose petal solar drying for gulkand and rose water

Loose-flower roses (Damask, Edward, Andhra Red) are processed into gulkand (sugar-preserved petals), rose water and rose attar in the Telangana-AP-Karnataka belt. Petals harvested before 9 AM at full bloom are spread thinly (~1-2 kg/m2) on solar dryers at 40-45 degC for 8-10 hours to ~10% moisture or sugar-layered for 21-day sun fermentation to make gulkand.

Key parameters

• Preferred Cultivars: Damask, Edward, Andhra Red for loose-flower processing
• Harvest Time: early morning before 9 AM at full bloom
• Solar Drying: 40-45 degC, 8-10 hours to ~10% moisture
• Gulkand Fermentation: 21 days of layered sugar-petals in sun

Implementation and adoption

Rose water is produced by steam distillation of fresh petals at ~1 L water per 1 kg petals. ICAR-IIHR and TFRI Mysore document the process; rose attar is rare and high-value.

References

1. Rose - ICAR-IIHR. https://iihr.res.in/varieties-crop-name/rose