Saudi Arabia's fragrant legacy: Exploring Taif's rosewater distillation tradition

Taif, Saudi Arabia's City of Roses, transforms into a breathtaking pink spectacle each spring, with countless blooms carpeting the landscape. Beyond their beauty, these roses hold a deeper significance: their meticulously extracted rosewater has served to cleanse the Holy Kaaba.

Skilled hands, passed down through generations, have nurtured thriving rose bushes on Mount Ghazwan. Visitors inhale the sweet scent carried by the cool mountain air.

Rosewater, with its unique scent and properties, holds immense value across Saudi Arabia. It enhances flavors in various dishes and drinks, and is a key ingredient in beauty products and perfumes. Taif's dedicated farms and factories work tirelessly to ensure a steady national supply of this valued ingredient.

TAIF'S ROSEWATER LEGACY: For centuries, rosewater production in Taif has been closely tied to the alembic, a distillation apparatus brought by camel caravans. The alembic revolutionised the rosewater industry in Taif, establishing the city as a leading producer of this prized commodity, used for centuries in perfumery, cosmetics, and even the washing of the Holy Kaaba.

Fuelled by increased production, Taif blossomed into a leading centre for rosewater, renowned today for its high-quality exports that grace markets worldwide.

UNVEILING ALEMBIC'S HIDDEN HISTORY: Dr. Ahmed Al Ghamdi, a chemistry professor at King Saud University, highlighted the alembic's historical significance in an interview with Saudi Press Agency (SPA). He explained how civilizations worldwide have woven it into their heritage, emphasising its lasting impact on the field of chemistry.

Al Ghamdi, speaking to SPA, mentioned the belief within Arab culture that the alembic was invented by the renowned Arab alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan. He drew attention to the phonetic similarities between the Arabic word and its English counterpart, "alembic," which could hint at an Arabic origin.

He highlighted evidence from Chinese literature suggesting earlier use of distillation in China. Al Ghamdi mentioned how complex chemical operations, like extracting mercury from cinnabar powder, were conducted using a Chinese copper apparatus centuries before Hayyan's alembic appeared. This indicates Chinese knowledge of distillation dating back to at least the second century BC, predating Hayyan's invention by eight centuries.

DISTILLING ROSE WATER WITH ALEMBIC: Every day, workers care for the bushes, gathering flowers destined for rose water and oil, highly valued in both cosmetic and culinary realms. While some workers pluck flowers in the fields, others meticulously fill and weigh baskets in sheds. Through boiling and distillation, the precious essence of the flowers is extracted.

The traditional rosewater production process using the alembic involves placing rose petals and water in a still pot, heating the mixture to evaporate water and carry essential oils along with it.

The vaporised oils are then condensed back into a liquid and collected. This process is repeated several times to extract the maximum amount of essential oils from the rose petals, resulting in a fragrant liquid used in a variety of applications.

MODERN DISTILLATION: Modern times have witnessed the distillation apparatus evolve significantly, gaining enhanced precision and control. Notably, the process now utilises a wider range of solvents, including organic ones, beyond traditional water.