RED AND STRONG WITH VITAMIN C

Rose hips are the fruit of rose bushes. Fresh fruits can have more  vitamin C than orange. They are native to Asia, Northern Africa and Europe. This plant has curved spines (uses them to support its growth), large pink or white flowers with a faint sweet smell. Fruits: striking red oval shaped hips (15-20 mm) form in small clusters. Each hip contains many seeds.

Rose hip fruits contain: Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, bioflavonoids (necessary to the proper absorption of the immune boosting vitamin), pectin, flavonoids, malic acid, beta-carotene, lutein, fatty and volatile oils, proteins.

Rose hips are used for:

• herbal tea
• syrups
• jellies
• oils
• marmalade

Preparation:

• perfumes and lotions
• essential oil
• rosewater
• tablets
• tinctures
• decoction
• rose hip syrup

Rose hip syrup recipe:

It can be used on pancakes, porridge or oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream. You can add syrup to tea and feel all its health benefits.

You need:

• 4 cups rose hips
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar

Wash rose hips thoroughly.

Remove stems and flower remnants. Then put rose hips in  boiling water for 20 minutes in a covered saucepan.

Once boiled, strain the rose hips through a jelly bag (alternatives may be a fine mesh strainer or a flour-sifter) and return clear juice to saucepan.

Add sugar to strained water, stir well and boil five minutes until sugar has dissolved and sauce has thickened.

Refrigerate syrup in an airtight container until ready for use.