Contents
Characteristics of rose hips
What are rose hips?
Rose hips are the fruits of the wild rose (Rosa canina L), which is a shrub very similar to sweet briar or eglantine (Rosa rubiginosa L.) ‒ whose fruit, can be used in the same way.
Of these wild fruits, their high vitamin C content stands out. In fact, they are one of the richest foods in vitamin C in the world, along with acerola.
When is rose hip season?
Rosehip plant, called dog rose, begins to bloom in spring. Its flowers, white or pink, also edible, are ideal for decorating wild salads.
The plant bears fruit in summer, but its fruits will not be ripe until almost autumn. Therefore, rose hips are forest fruits of the autumn season . In fact, for many, they are the typical fruit of the forest to “peck” during excursions, when you are going to look for mushrooms, like the arbutus, juniper or blackthorn, all of them, fruits of the season.
What flavor does rosehip have?
Its flavor is acid and very sweet, not bitter at all. Rosehip has a dry texture, although if a very mature specimen is found, it has a meat as juicy as a thick jam. In fact, it is a fruit with a low water content and a very dry pulp.
How to collect rose hips
- It is recommended to harvest the very ripe fruits, but without them being wrinkled.
- Rose hips are collected when their appearance is completely red and begins to be soft.
- It is advisable to pick them up when the first frosts take place, because they are much softer and wilted, but we risk that someone goes soft and wants to rot.
Are rose hips eatable?
Rose hips can be eaten raw or cooked, but always very ripe: when they are bright red and have a soft texture. The seeds inside, very hard and with stinging hairs, are not eaten and should be removed.
Before consuming the “wrapper” or red pulp, the hard seeds, that they contain inside and which occupy most of the fruit, must be removed.
*Related information: Rose hip properties
More information on rose hip
