Emma Miller
The benefits of rosehips are well known. These berries have strong bactericidal properties and are very rich in vitamins. They are good for the gallbladder, bone marrow, liver, blood quality, intestines, and skin.
When to pick rosehips
In the southern wild rose hips are harvested in about mid-September, and in the northern regions – in late September or early October. You can recognize a ripe rosehip by the widely opened sepals at the end of the berries.
You can also pick berries later on. Then they will have more sugar but less vitamin C. It is important to get there before the first serious frost.
How to pick rosehips
Rose hips are very prickly so you should wear long sleeves and thick gloves. It is better to pluck the berries together with the remains of the calyx and the stalks. Rosehips should be collected in dry weather so that the leaves and fruits are completely dry.
How to dry rosehips
There are several ways to dry wild rosehips.
The first method is natural drying. For this, the rose hips are poured on a cloth or cardboard in a dry and ventilated place without direct sunlight, such as the attic or glazed balcony. Berries are stored for 3-4 weeks, stirring them once every couple of days.
The second method is drying in the oven. Wild rose hips are sorted (but not washed) and placed on a baking tray. Put in the oven at 40 °. Do not close the oven door. Thus the berries dry for 8-10 hours. Ready-to-dry berries should be wrinkled and soft skin and then cut the juice should not stand out.
After drying, dry sepals should be removed. Dried rosehips are stored in glass or plastic containers. Instead of a lid on top of the container cover it with gauze or cloth.
Instead of drying berries can be frozen. They are stored frozen in the freezer for 1 year.
How to brew rosehips – a recipe for tea
Tea from berries is useful for colds, inflammation of the kidneys, and diseases of the stomach, kidneys, and liver. Healthy people can drink it for the prevention of diseases and increase immunity, as well as improve blood quality.
Tea from rosehips in a thermos is prepared as follows: wash the berries and put a few berries on the bottom. If you brew whole berries, then they must be cut. Then fill the flask with boiling water. Insist the drink for at least 4 hours, and preferably 8 hours.
In a pot boil rosehip tea under a lid over low heat for 30 minutes if the berries are whole, and 15 minutes for sliced berries. You will need 4 tablespoons of berries for 1 liter of water. After boiling, infuse the tea for another 30 minutes.
