Rose water, a byproduct of rose oil production, is widely used in Asian and Middle Eastern cusine. In France, rose syrup is widely used, most commonly made from an extract of rose petals. In the United States, Frenceh rose syrup is used to make rose scones and marshmallows. Rose hips, the fruit of some species, is used as a source of Vitamin c. Rose hips are occasionally made into jam, jelly, and marmalade, or are brewed for tea. They are also pressed and filtered to make rose hip syrup. Rose hips are also used to produce rose hip seed oil, which is used in skin and makeup products. The fruits of many species have significant levels of vitamins and have been used as a food supplement. Many roses have been used in herbal and folk medicines. Rosa chinensis has long been used in Chinese traditional medicine. This and other species have bewen used for stomach problems, and are being investigated for controlling cancer growth.
From The Herbal Messenger, Newsletter of the Maumee Valley Herb Society, January 2012