Taif, February 11, 2024, SPA

Taif, February 11, 2024, SPA -- The peaks of Al-Hada and Al-Shafa mountains, along with the farms in Wadi Muharram, and the surrounding areas and valleys of Taif Governorate have long been the main sources of fruit for Makkah and its vicinity. They are also the home of the famous Taif roses whose oil is important for the cosmetic industry, mainly perfumery, and has global appeal.
Taif's ideal soil and moderate climate have made it the perfect home for the eponymous rose bushes. Generation after generation diligently tended to the roses, harvesting, and distilling them to extract their oil and water. Taif rose oil has traditionally been used for washing the holy Kaaba annually.
Taif's roses have a profound cultural significance. They have become a cherished symbol of refinement that inspires emotions and narratives, particularly poetry, and reflect a timeless bond between the people and the land of Taif.
The Taif roses, once scarce on the highest mountain peaks, have now become a significant landmark. With investments of over SAR64 million in the Saudi market, the farms on the Sarawat Mountains yield an annual production of approximately 550 million roses. The more than 910 farms in Taif work with around 70 factories and laboratories, creating over 80 popular rose-derived products that enjoy wide popularity in the local and international markets.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, Khalid Al Kamal, an agricultural expert who comes from a family dedicated to the cultivation of Taif roses, and the manufacturing of products deriving from them, talked about his deep connection to the roses. Representing the seventh generation of his family, he highlighted the importance of the roses and explained the steps involved in the manufacturing of their derivatives.
Al Kamal said that the distillation process of the roses yields three distinct products: regular rose water, concentrated rose water, and the world's most expensive rose oil.
The Taif rose season, Al Kamal said, lasts for some 40 to 50 days. During this time, the rose bushes are filled with blossoms that bloom at different times. The rose blooms are harvested in the early morning hours when they are at their peak.
The Taif rose is unique in that it blooms only once a year, which makes it even more precious.