Gathering Free Food From the Countryside

Pick, Dry, Store and Use Your Own Harvest of Rosehips

Sep 26, 2009

Gather your own free food supplies from the countryside this autumn. Rosehips are abundant and full of goodness, make rosehip syrup or a nutritious warming tea with honey

Rosehips are rich in Vitamin C and can be bought dried from most health food shops, but you can also harvest your own supply and save money as well as knowing their source. Begin by gathering this highly nutritious little gem of the countryside.

In spring the wild rose has pink or white blossoms with four or five petals, these die off to produce a hip which becomes red when ripe and these are then ready for gathering in September and October for a healthy harvest.

Nutritional Value of Rosehips

All parts of the rose are edible and nutritious but it’s the hips that are the most valuable source of Vitamin C and other important nutrients.

Compared to oranges, rose hips contain 25 percent more iron, 20 to 40 percent more Vitamin C, 25 times more the Vitamin A, and 28 percent more calcium. They are also a rich source of bioflavonoid, pectin, Vitamin E, selenium, manganese, and the B-complex vitamins. Rose hips also contain trace amounts of magnesium, potassium, silicon and sulphur.

Gathering, Drying and Storing Rosehips

To dry the hips, remove any petal or stalk and spread them on a baking sheet for a couple of weeks until completely dry they will then be hard and slightly wrinkled. When completely dry pack them into jars and store in a cool dark place.

Using Rosehips

Rosehip tea may be made from both fresh and dried hips. For fresh hips put a tablespoon or two in a mug add boiling water and steep for around ten minutes, sweeten with honey for a delicious and nutritious drink. When using dried hips use two teaspoons of hips per mug and steep a little longer.

To make rosehip syrup put the washed hips into a pan and barely cover with water, bring to the boil and then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and add one part honey to two parts rose hip liquid, stir together over the heat and cool. This may be kept in the fridge or for a longer keeping time put into sterilised jars and in a Bain Marie or freeze it.

The copyright of the article Gathering Free Food From the Countryside in Mediterranean Cuisine is owned by Rachel L. Webb. Permission to republish Gathering Free Food From the Countryside in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.