Rose hips are a potent fruit and are readily abundant on rose bushes in the fall. The hips (also called haws) are best gathered after the first frost, when the fruit has developed a sweeter taste. Higher in vitamin C (ascorbic acid) than citrus fruits, rose hips have a tangy flavor much like cranberries. Rose hips are also high in B-complex vitamins, which are essential for women for a number of reasons such as healthy reproduction, stress hormone management and strong hair and nails. This makes me think that there’s more than one reason why women love roses so much!
There are plenty of tasty rose hip recipes, like rose hip jelly, fruit leather, syrup and wine. The Swedish consume tons of rose hips every year in the form of rose hip soup, a national favorite! Dried or crushed rose hips are generally decocted, or boiled, for about 10 minutes to make a tangy tea.
There’s definitely a wholesome, down-to-earth feeling in taking a basket out for an afternoon walk and harvesting your own rose hips. When gathering them, however, be certain that the roses have not been sprayed with any chemical pesticides or fungicides, or you’ll end up brewing yourself a rather unhealthy tea.
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