Rose terraces
Al Hada and Al Shafa
Rows of rose bushes on mountain terraces, in pink bloom in spring.
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Taif, Saudi Arabia
Taif Rose Farms
Farms in the mountains around Taif where the fragrant Taif rose is grown, picked at dawn in spring and distilled into rose water and rose oil.
Favourite places
Distilleries
Rose farms
Copper stills where petals are boiled into rose water and oil.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Farm shops
Rose farms
Rose water, rose oil, soaps and other rose products to buy.
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Local food
Taif rose water and rose oil
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Taif roses are distilled into rose water and the costly rose oil (dehn al-ward). Rose water flavours Arabic coffee, sweets and desserts; rose oil is a prized perfume. Buy from farms and long-established perfume shops.
Saudi coffee (qahwa) with dates
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom (often saffron or cloves too), poured in small cups and always served with dates. Offering it is the heart of Saudi hospitality.
Mountain honey
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Honey from the Sarawat mountains around Taif, including the dark sidr honey, sold in the souq and at mountain stalls.
Where to eat
Farm tastings
Rose farms
Some farms offer rose-flavoured coffee, tea or sweets to visitors.
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Central Taif
Sweets and snacks in the old souq after a farm visit.
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Where to stay
Al Hada
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Resorts and chalets on the mountain on the Makkah side of Taif — cooler air and views, close to the cable car and viewpoints.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Al Shafa
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Chalets and simple lodges among the mountain farms south of Taif — the coolest and quietest base, best with a car.
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Culture
Rose farming is a family tradition passed down for generations. Farmers are proud of their roses — ask before photographing, and accept a cup of rose-scented coffee if offered.
History
The Taif rose (ward Taifi) is a pink, highly scented damask rose grown on mountain terraces around Taif, especially in Al Hada and Al Shafa. Each spring, around March and April, the flowers are hand-picked early in the morning, before the sun weakens their scent, and taken to family distilleries.
There, the petals are boiled in copper stills to make rose water and the precious rose oil. A very large quantity of roses is needed for a small amount of oil, which is why it is so prized. Taif's rose water is widely said to be used in the ceremonial washing of the Ka'bah. A Taif Rose Festival has been held in the season.
Tour plans
Rose harvest morning
Half dayStep 1: Dawn picking
Arrive early to see roses picked by hand.
Step 2: Distillery
Watch petals become rose water and oil.
Step 3: Farm shop
Buy rose products to take home.
Travel information
Best time to visit
Spring, around March–April, during the harvest. Go early in the morning to see picking and distilling.
How to get there
Farms are in the mountain areas around Taif, mainly Al Hada and Al Shafa. Drive there; ask your hotel which farms welcome visitors in the season.
Getting around
By car between farms; visits are on foot among the bushes and in the distillery.
Travel tips
- Outside the harvest season the bushes are green but not in flower — distilleries may still sell products.
- Buy rose water and oil from farms or established shops and ask about purity.
- Arrive early: picking happens at dawn.
