Niyousha Kerr 
I am kind of obsessed with all rose everything….rose water, rose flowers, rose infused body care, and the list goes on and on. But, what I love the most is sipping on my rose bud tea in my favourite mug before I go to bed. The floral scent and the mild taste has a comforting, calming and soothing affect. Rose bud tea can help reduce anxiety, lower stress levels and encourage sleep. (1)(2)
Sometimes I make my regular tea (green or whatever else I have on hand), then add a few buds in it, or I steep just the rose buds on their own. Depends how lazy I am! One of the great benefits of rose bud tea (steeped on it’s own using petals or buds) is that it is caffeine free and offers many health benefits.
Rose bud tea is a regular staple in the middle east. Damask rose is most widely used due to it’s many medicinal properties. The best quality roses require dry areas in mountainous countries with minimal rain. The countries that produce very high quality organic roses are Iran, Turkey, Morocco and France. However, Iran has the largest, and best rose farms due to it’s well known mountain heights such as Albroz and it’s arid climate.
Rose bud tea is very rich in antioxidants! You know those compounds that help fight free radicals? But what are free radicals? They are mean molecules that can cause cellular damage which can lead to oxidative stress. This can potentially cause dis-ease in the body as well as pre-mature aging! Yup!! Stress can age you! (3)
Feeling “crampy” and moody during your menstrual cycle? Although, more research is needed, rose bud tea has been found to potentially help to alleviate those symptoms. (4) A study with 130 teenagers in Taiwan, found that those who drank 2 cups of rose bud tea daily for 12 days before their menstrual cycle reported less pain. (5)
In the middle east rose petals have been used as a digestive aid for centuries. These may assist with improving digestive issues, such as potentially relieving cramping, bloating and constipation. Rose petals may also act as a mild laxative. (6)(7) Due to it’s antimicrobial properties, rose petal tea may aid with rebalancing the microflora. (8)
Finally, Rose bud tea can help lessen symptoms of inflammation such as reducing pain caused by physical injury or arthritis. (9)(10)(11)(12)
Where can you find rose buds? You can search online for reliable companies providing quality organic and sustainable rose buds. Or you can head over to your local middle eastern grocery store. Find out where the rose buds have been grown. Quality rose buds such as those grown in Iran are always organic!!
Happy budding 🙂
