The smell of Kashan in May
Qamsar sits among gardens of roses grown for their petals. In the late 19th century, a visitor wrote of its fine roses “used for the manufacture of rosewater,” and the trade has carried on ever since. Each spring the town hosts Golabgiri, one of Iran’s biggest festivals, which celebrates rose water.
Golab in the kitchen
Golab is used all over Persian life. A spoonful goes into tea, into rice puddings and sweets, and into the saffron ice cream of summer. It is sprinkled over guests’ hands, and it is part of the scent of many Iranian homes.
In the Bazaar
Look here for bottles of rose water from Kashan and for rose petals, tea and sweets that go with them. Read about Fin Garden in the same region.
