Rose distillate from Agros - gastronomic map of Cyprus
«Ροδόσταγμα Αγρού» Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου
Agros distilled rose petals is a distillate of the whole Rosa Damascena flower.
Name - Origin
Agros distilled rose petals is a distillate of the whole Rosa Damascena flower (Ministry of Agriculture 2011).
It was named after the area of Agros, where it is mainly produced (note: Stalo Lazarou).
Method of production: The roses are collected in the very early hours of the morning and their petals are placed directly into the distillery. The water vapour produced is passed through a spiral cooling pipe, liquefied and collected. Rose distillate is stored in dark-coloured glass containers in a dark and cool place (Ministry of Agriculture 2011, entry 22 - Ροδόσταγμα Αγρού).
Functional and symbolic role
Rose distillate is widely added in various types of sweets e.g. baklava, ladies fingers, mahalepi, rice pudding, etc. It is also used in the production of soutz̆oúkko, ppalousé and kkioftérka (Ministry of Agriculture 2011, entry 22 - Ροδόσταγμα Αγρού).
On religious festivals, those who are celebrating their nameday, stand next to the icon of the celebrated saint and sprinkle rose distillate (from merréhes) on the people who greet them during vespers in the church (note: Stalo Lazarou).
Rose distillate is used to clean the icons of the Saints in the church (note: Stalo Lazarou).
Additional information and bibliography
The production of rose distillate has traditionally been carried out mainly in the mountains villages of Troodos, the most famous being the villages of Milikouri and Agros. Rose distillate was sold at fairs and was usually exchanged for products the cultivation of which would not pay off in a mountainous areas (Ministry of Agriculture 2011, entry 22 - Ροδόσταγμα Αγρού).
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Agriculture (2011), Gastronomic Map of Cyprus, Press and Information Office, Nicosia.
Stalo Lazarou, Argyro Xenophontos
Traditional Recipes
Halouvás with rose cordial
The addition of rose cordial gives the halva a special aroma and a warm, red colour. The recipe comes from the occupied Yialousa.
Foods
Rose water from Agros Village
The traditional way of preparing the rose distillate requires the use of a distiller...
Foods
Ανθόνερο ή ροδόσταγμα - Citrus water or Rose water
Anthónero (citrus water) is a distillate of citrus flowers and rodóstagma (rose water), is a distillate of rose petals of rosa Damascena, both of which are used to flavour traditional sweets.