The rosehip – a regional superfood
From early autumn right through to winter, you’ll come across rose hips – the fruit of the rose family (wild rose, dog rose, climbing rose, etc.) – on almost every walk. The fruit develops in autumn from the fleshy receptacle of the rose. The rosehip is not poisonous! On the contrary, this wild fruit is rich in vitamins (vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K). The rosehip is best known for its high vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content. Thanks to its variety of vitamins, the fruit has a positive effect on the immune system and is often used to help combat colds.
Rose hips are usually used to make tea. To do this, simply remove the harvested fruits from the stem and flower stalk and leave them to dry. The chopped and dried fruits make the ideal tea for cold winter days. The seeds of the rosehip are known as a natural ‘itching powder’. It is advisable to remove the seeds using a tea bag when making tea.
Rose hips are also popular as animal feed (for horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.). Animals benefit just as much as humans from consuming this fruit, which is rich in vitamins and minerals. If you do not collect the fruit yourself, it can also be bought as a powder or whole fruit from a well-stocked pet shop.
Other uses of rose hips:
Rose hips are ideal for making jam, jelly or purée. Here is a quick and easy recipe for rose hip purée. Not only does it taste good, but it also helps to boost the immune system.
Recipe: Rosehip purée
Remove the stalks and flower buds from the harvested rosehips and wash them. Depending on the quantity of rosehips, simmer them in a saucepan with just enough water to cover them. The advantage of this rosehip recipe is that the fruit does not need to be deseeded. Once the whole fruit has been cooked until soft, it can be pressed or puréed together with the cooking liquid through a potato ricer or a “Flotte Lotte” food processor. Stir the mixture until smooth, then bring to the boil with a little freshly squeezed lemon juice and jam sugar. Boiling destroys a small amount of the vitamin C. Nevertheless, the rosehip purée is a truly delicious vitamin powerhouse.
The purée can be enjoyed as a spread on bread, in muesli or on its own.
You can find more recipe ideas from the region here.