Using Rose Hips: 3 Herbal Recipes
Using rose hips is a delightful and time-tested way to connect with nature’s seasonal offerings.
Rose hips are the nutrient-rich fruit of the rose plant (Rosa spp.). For centuries, herbalists and healers have gathered rose hips after the first light frost, carefully removed the seeds, and used the fruit as the star ingredient in health-supporting syrups, jams, jellies, teas, powders, and more. Rose hips don’t taste as floral as rose petals; instead they have a slightly sour, somewhat sweet and tangy flavor that’s a bit astringent and cooling.
The Benefits of Rose Hips
It’s believed that much of rose hips’ nutritional benefits come from it’s high Vitamin C content. In fact, a single ounce of wild rose hips contains more than 200% your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C! Vitamin C helps support our immune systems, so it’s no wonder there’s a long history of people turning to rose hip syrups and tonics during cold and flu season.
Herbalists often seek rose petals for matters of the energetic heart, including grief and heartache, and it appears rose hips may also have heart-related benefits! A 2011 clinical study concluded: “Daily consumption of 40g of rose hip powder for 6 weeks can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk through lowering of systolic blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels.”
Rose hips have also been studied for their effects on joint conditions, and they have a long history of being used by herbalists to ease the symptoms of arthritic inflammation. A 2005 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that participants who consumed 5g of rose hip powder for 3 weeks experienced a “significant reduction in pain as compared to the placebo.”
Topically, rose hip seed oil is beneficial for the skin and often included as a primary ingredient in natural skincare products. Rose hip seed oil is especially prized for its ability to help lighten the appearance of scars. In a 2015 study, post-surgical patients at a hospital in Spain were treated with rose hip seed oil twice a day after surgery. Compared to the control group, those treated with rose hip seed oil showed significantly less reddening of the skin, discoloration, and atrophy at the surgical site. Topical serums that contain rose hips, like our RENEW Face Serum, may be helpful for reducing the appearance of acne scars, as well.
Harvesting Rose Hips
Not all rose varieties produce large, usable hips. If you’re shopping for roses to add to your garden—and you want to enjoy the hips each year—then you’ll want to do a bit of research to make sure the variety you choose produces hips. Rosa rugosa varieties, including ‘Alba,’ are blessed with large, delicious hips, and so are many wild and shrub roses, including wild dog rose (Rosa canina). Here in the Pacific Northwest, my favorite is the beach rose because the hips are big and hearty!
After you find (or plant) a rose variety with abundant hips, leave some of the flowers on the bush through spring and summer so the hips can form in their place. As the year progresses, make sure not to spray the plant with pesticides—that’s not something you want to eat! (If you’re harvesting wild rose hips, then you may want to check with the landowner, if possible, to confirm that they haven’t sprayed.)
In autumn, the first light frost will cause the rose hips to turn bright red and become a bit softer; this is the perfect time to harvest. If you wait too much longer, then they can become mushy after multiple frosts or the birds may claim them for themselves!
With garden scissors or shears, clip the rose hip from the bush as closely as possible to the base of the bulb-shaped hip.
To cook or preserve your rose hips, first cut them in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Remove the tiny hairs and seeds by rinsing the hip under cold water or submerging it in a bowl of cold water. Make sure to use gloves to protect your hands, those tiny hairs can irritate sensitive skin! You can use the prepared rose hips immediately (see the recipes below!) or preserve them for later by placing them in a dehydrator or by spreading them on trays in single layers to dry in a cool, dark place.
Using Rose Hips: 3 Recipes
Using rose hips is a lovely way to connect with autumn’s bounty and to support your and your family’s health. These are the three rose hip recipes I turn to most often when my basket overflows with bright red, juicy rose hips each fall.
Rose Hip Elixir
Herbal elixirs are similar to tinctures, except they include honey, which sweetens the taste and makes them easier to consume. Every autumn, I make a big batch of rose hip elixir that my family and I reach for whenever we feel a cough or cold coming on.
Ingredients
1.5 cups fresh rose hips, deseeded and cleaned
1.5 cups brandy
¼ cup honey
A pint-sized glass canning jar with lid
Instructions
Chop the rose hips as small as you can, then add them to a glass, pint-sized canning jar. (If you don’t have fresh rose hips available, then you can use dry, store-bought rose hips instead.)
Add alcohol to the jar, shake to combine.
Add honey to the jar, shake to combine. (If you add the honey before the alcohol, it won’t mix as easily).
Add more alcohol, if needed, to fill the jar completely.
Label your jar with the ingredients and date, then store in a cool, dark spot to infuse for 4-6 weeks.
Shake the jar every few days to keep your plant material fully submerged. (This is also a great time to infuse your rose hip elixir with positive intention!)
After 4-6 weeks have passed, strain the plant material from the liquid, compost the spent rose hips, and then store the remaining liquid in a clear glass jar that’s labeled “Rose Hip Elixir.”
To use: Take 1-2 dropperfuls at the first sign of a cold or flu or anytime you need a bit of additional immune support.
Vitamin C Balls
These Vitamin C Balls are so much fun to make, especially with kids! They’re a great way to boost your immune system naturally during cold and flu season, and they store well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, so you can make a big batch and then share them with family and guests.
Ingredients
¼ cup powdered rose hips
3 Tablespoons herb-infused honey (spruce honey pairs well with rose hips!)
2 Tablespoons powdered orange peel
Instructions
Add enough honey to the powdered rose hips that they can be rolled into balls.
Roll out as many pea-sized balls as you can, shaping them between the palms of your hands.
Roll each little ball in powdered orange peel until it’s fully coated.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy any time you’re craving a sweet and sour, Vitamin C-rich snack!
*Due to the high level of vitamin C, talk to your doctor before consuming if pregnant or have pre-existing health conditions.
Rose Hip Electuary
Electuaries are an ancient herbal preparation that combines powdered herbs with honey to create a sweet spread. You can use electuaries in place of jam or jelly, spread them on pancakes, or drizzle them on oatmeal or yogurt. My favorite way to use electuaries is also one of the simplest—simply add a spoonful of your electuary to a cup of hot water for an instant honey-sweetened herbal tea!
Ingredients
1 part powdered rose hips
¼ part powdered spearmint
⅛ part powdered ginger
Enough honey to form a slightly runny paste
Instructions
When working with “parts” you first select what form of measurement you want your part to stand for. 1 “part” could equal 1 cup, 1 Tablespoon, or any other measurement that aligns with the amount of herbs you have on hand and how much finished product you want your recipe to create. For example, if you want 1 part to equal 1 Tablespoon for this recipe, then you would use 1 Tablespoon rose hips, ¼ Tablespoon spearmint, and ⅛ Tablespoon ginger.
Combine your powdered herbs in a small bowl.
Add enough honey to form a slightly runny paste.
Store your herbal honey electuary in a small glass jar and label with the ingredients. Honey is a natural preservative, and your homemade Rose Hip Electuary will have a shelf life of approximately 1 year when stored in a cool, dark location.
In Closing,
If you enjoy wildcrafting or working with seasonal herbs, then using fresh rose hips will be a lovely new skill! The sweet and tangy flavor blends well with many other herbs, and you can’t go wrong with a healthy dose of Vitamin C.