There are so many benefits to using and consuming rosehips, including the antioxidant boost and potential reduction in inflammation.
To make the most of these beneficial properties, you can use rose hips to make teas, syrups, salves, cold remedies and skin care.
They are a great natural source of vitamin C and provide other beneficial properties, but most people don’t know what to do with them.
This post will tell you about the different ways to use rose hips in your daily life. Many people use them to make natural teas. But did you know that you can also eat your rose hips? In fact, there’s no limit to the ways in which you can enjoy this plant!
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to consume rose hips so that next time you have some on hand, they won’t go to waste!
We’ll walk through some of the most common uses of rose hips, including their culinary applications as well as how to make tea with them.
If that’s not enough, we also include information on vitamin C content and other health benefits associated with consuming these fruits.
By the end of this article you’ll be able to say goodbye to those expensive supplements and enjoy all the great things rose hips have to offer!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Benefits of Rose Hips
Rosehips have a very mild taste, slightly tangy, fruity and sweet all at once. It could be described almost like a very faint mix of apple and cranberry taste.
While you can eat the fleshy skin raw, it’s more pleasant to use them to make tea or dry them for other purposes.
There are plenty of ways in which you can use rosehips. Perhaps the best way is to break down what each benefit is and how it may assist you with your needs.
Vitamin C
The antioxidants in rose hips are one of the major reasons why so many people love them, including their high vitamin C content.
Rose hips are packed with Vitamin C which provides an antioxidant boost to our immune system. This is primarily why it’s used for those who have common colds or flus.
Anti-inflammatory
Rose hips also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Those who suffer from chronic inflammation can use the rosehip to help reduce it and provide pain relief, especially for those suffering from arthritis or other conditions with similar symptoms.
Anti-bacterial & Antibiotic Properties
The rose hip is high in certain amino acids which help inhibit or eliminate certain bacteria and microbes that cause sinusitis, bronchitis, and other common colds.
They can also be used to effectively relieve symptoms associated with urinary tract infections due to the antibacterial properties they possess.
How to Harvest Rose Hips, De-Seed and Prepare for Use
There are a few things to keep in mind when harvesting your rose hips.
If you don’t have wild roses accessible to you, you can easily order rose hips online.
Harvest After the First Frost
Rosehips should only be harvested after the first hard frost. Don’t do it before frost as to not encourage the plant to produce flowers in the wrong season.
The flowers will just die off and this doesn’t help the plant’s health.
Look for berries (rose hips) that are vibrant in color (bright red-orange) and firm to the touch.
Cut the stems off of the rose hip to remove it from the tree or bush.
Dry and De-Seed the Rose Hips
Once you have your rose hip, it’s time to de-seed them. It’s advised not to consume the hairy seeds on the inside as they are an irritant to the digestive tract.
Deseeding can be a pain as they’re quite small.
The quickest way has been to cut them in half and dry them. You can either bake them in the oven at a low temperature for a few hours (about 200 degrees Fahrenheit) or use a dehydrator.
I like the NutriChef Food Dehydrator because it’s nice and compact.
After they’re dry & brittle, throw them in a jar and shake it like crazy. The seeds will separate and fall off.
Then, sieve in a mesh colander to let the seeds fall through.
How to Make Rose Hip Tea
While rosehips are found in many supplements on the market, there are plenty of ways to use them in your everyday life.
Make Rosehip Tea
Here are some of my favorite rose hip tea recipes (they’re so simple).
Classic Rose Hip Tea
Method:
Cook a pot of rose hips down until they’re a jam-like consistency. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. After they’re frozen, you can pull one cube out for individual cups of tea.
Place inside a mesh tea strainer and pout boiled water over top.
I think these silicone rose-shaped ice cube trays would add the perfect touch.
Rosehip Ginger Tea
Method:
Add approximately one tablespoon of chopped, dried rose hips to a mesh tea infuser into a cup of boiling water.
Allow the tea to steep for around 15 minutes. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of grated ginger and allow the mixture to cool. Drink hot or cold as desired.
Ultimate Rosehip Tea Blend
Method:
Mix dried rose hips with a mint leaf, 1 tablespoon of fresh horsetail (helps promote hair growth) or nettle leaves (to help with digestion) and one teaspoon of freshly chopped ginger.
Steep for about 15 minutes. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and drink as desired.
Rose & Mint Tea
Method:
Steep dried rose hips, petals and mint leaves together.
Rose Hip Cold Remedies
Consuming rose hip tea or syrups when you feel like you’re getting sick, or if you’ve already gotten a cold can help provide symptom relief.
Here are some of the best rose hip recipes for cold remedies.
Basic Rosehip Syrup
Method:
Cut rose hips in half and scrape out the seeds. Put them on a baking pan at 250 degrees Fahrenheit, for 2-3 hours or until they have dried out and are brittle.
Add them to a sauce pan and cover them with water. Bring them to a boil, then turn it down and simmer for 30 minutes.
Strain the mixture into a new pan and repeat this process two more times until it no longer produces any rose hips pulp.
Sweeten with honey or maple syrup to taste.
Cold Relief Rosehip Syrup Recipe
- 1 1/2 cups dried rose hips (or 2 cups fresh)
- 2 lemons
- ½ inch ginger root
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ¼ cup raw honey
Method:
Put the rose hips, lemons and ginger root through a food processor or blender. Pour this mixture into a saucepan with 1½ cups of water and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat, cover and let it stand overnight on the countertop.
Strain and squeeze out excess liquid by placing several layers of cheesecloth over a sieve or bowl.
Pour into a pan and bring to a boil. Cook at low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon powder and honey, then remove it from the heat.
This can help relieve sore throats and potentially nasal congestion and coughs.
Rose Hip Jam Recipes
Why not try making some rose hip jam? It tastes delicious, is super easy to make and can be a tasty addition for your morning toast, scone or muffins.
Rose hip jam is also the perfect homemade gift, especially when you use these adorable Weck tulip jars.
Classic Rose Hip Marmalade
Method:
Add the rose hips to a food processor or blender (you can use fresh or dried) and blitz until smooth.
Transfer them to a saucepan and add sugar to taste. Stir until it is melted, then add the lemon zest and juice.
Bring to a boil before turning down the heat and simmering for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Rose Hip & Apple Jam
Method:
Pulse rose hips to a pulp in a food processor or blender. In a saucepan, boil peeled and chopped apples with water until they are very soft.
Add the rose hips and continue boiling for five minutes, then add honey. Boil again until it is the desired consistency before removing it from the heat.
I also love adding chia seeds to this jam for a thicker consistency and added superfood boost.
Rose Hip Skin Care
You can also make soothing body scrubs and natural facial masks with rose hips.
Rosehip Skin Scrub
Combine the following: 1 cup rose hips, 2 tablespoons runny honey and ¼ cup olive oil. Mix together in a glass jar, cover with a lid and shake vigorously until well-combined.
Massage this cleansing mixture all over your body, paying particular attention to problem skin areas like your elbows and knees.
Rinse well with warm water after scrubbing, then pat dry.
Rosehip Body Scrub Recipe
Add 1/2 cup Add 1/2 cup rose hips, 1/2 cup Epsom salts, 1/4 cup oats, some sugar and other dried herbs as you wish, such as lavender or rosemary.
Mix well in a bowl and scrub your skin in the bath.
Rosehip Face Mask
I like to make this one after getting out of the shower because while my pores are open, this mask will really help get rid of blackheads.
Mix 1 egg, 1 teaspoon honey and 1/2 cup rose hips pulp together.
Apply this mask evenly to your face, avoiding the eye area. Allow it to set for about 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
Final Thoughts on Using Rose Hips
Rose hips are an abundant fruit that have many different uses. All you need to do is cut them in half and scrape out the seeds before cooking or blending them with a liquid like water, honey or apple juice. If you want to make tea, jam, face masks or scrubs then rose hips can be used for all of these purposes!
I hope this blog post has given you some helpful tips on how to use rose hips in your everyday life- whether it’s using them as a cold remedy or adding them into your skin care routine! Let me know in the comments below if there are any other ways that were missed!
Stay Green!
Save a pin below to your Pinterest boards!
