“Land under damask rose cultivation in Iran amounts to 24,000 hectares. Every year, 870 to 2,000 kilograms of damask rose essence are produced in Iran, which is priced at €5,500-12,000 per kilo in the international markets,” Hossein Zeinali was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
Iran, he had said earlier, supplies 90% of global rosewater demand and accounts for 8-10% of rose essence production in the world, Financial Tribune reported.
Noting that the country exported $10 million worth of rose, rosewater and essence last year (March 2018-19), the official said the export of 194,000 kilograms of damask rose generated $1.4 million during the period.
“About 3.85 million kilograms of rosewater worth $8 million were exported to Persian Gulf littoral states last year,” he added.
Iran’s rosewater is exported to 23 countries.
Fars Province has the largest area under rose cultivation whereas the city of Kashan in Isfahan Province is the main hub of rosewater production in Iran.
Rosewater is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals, a byproduct of the production of rose oil for use in perfume. It is used to flavor food and tea, as a component in cosmetic and medical preparations, and for religious purposes throughout Europe and Asia.