Rose hips are the “fruit” of a rose plant. They are the pod where a rose flower has bloomed and fallen off. Usually they are in shades or red or orange but can also range up to an almost black color. Rose hips are very high in vitamin C and can be used dry for teas, made into an oil or even made into jams or jellies. The food product of the rose hip is in the skin and is a bit similar in taste to an apple.
To collect rose hips, pick the ripest berries. Usually more vivid in color and slightly soft. The best taste will come from picking near or right after the first frost but can be done as early as August. To encourage your roses to produce hips do not cut off the dead rose blooms. The most important thing in collecting rose hips to be sure that the bush has not been treated with any chemicals like pesticides.
Drying rose hips is fairly simple and similar to any flower drying. Sort out any poor quality hips and rinse well. Pat them dry. Using cardboard, wax paper or parchment spread the hips out in a single layer. Leave to dry in a well ventilated dark area for several weeks. You may also oven dry or use a food dehydrator. Hips may be dried whole or can be cut and have the seeds removed first.
Once dry and de-seeded, crush the rose hips. Place a batch in a sieve and shake to remove the hairs. The hairs should fall through. Remaining hairs, stems and any other leftovers may be then picked out of the batch. It is very important to remove the hairs. Hairs from rose hips are very unpleasant in taste and have been used to create itching powders. Dried this way rose hips make an excellent tea.
Another way to process rose hips is by cutting them in half and removing the seeds. Cover the cut halves in water and simmer. You can then make a puree by rubbing them through a sieve. Again remember to remove any hairs. Rose hip purees can be used in jams, jellies and many other food items.
Rose hip oil is extracted from the seeds of the rose hip. You will need a base oil, preferably olive or another lighter type of vegetable oil. Combine two cups of this oil with one cup of rose hips. A crock pot is the best type of vessel as the mixture will need to cook on a low heat for a minimum of eight hours. When your mixture is done cooking strain out all particles using a cheesecloth. Store your rose hip oil in a dark colored bottle.
Rose hips as a food provide good amounts of vitamin C, rose hip oils are wonderful for the skin and dried rose hips by themselves can make a lovely potpourri. This flowers benefits go on long after the blooms are gone!
