Harvesting and Dining on Rose Hips

Boost your body’s Vitamin C by including rose hip tea, jams, jellies and sauces in your diet.

Rose hips are the fruit of the rose. They have a sweet tangy flavor and are rich in Vitamin C. Only harvest hips from plants you know have not been exposed to pesticides or other chemicals. Pick the fruit when fully colored. Simply grab the hip between your finger and thumb and twist. Use a pruner to clip larger fruit from the plant.

Gently wash the fruit and remove any stem and blossom remnants. Place in water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Crush the fruit then strain the juice for use in jellies and sauces.

Steep rose hips in hot water for tea. Or cut the rose hip in half and scoop out the seeds. Spread on a tray, place in the oven or dehydrator or hang on strings to dry. Store in an airtight jar.

A bit more information
Rose hip powder is a rich source of vitamin C that appears to decrease inflammation. Some arthritis sufferers report a reduction in hip, knee and wrist pain when using rose hip powder. The Arthritis Foundation shares some insights and results from recent studies involving rose hip powder.