They are often used to make delicious jams: rose hips are the fruits of rose bushes and wild roses, renowned for their vitamin content and antioxidant properties. When ripe, rose hips appear as small fruits ranging from red to orange or black, with a more or less elongated shape depending on the variety. Very fine hairs are present on the skin, and they can be slightly irritating, which is why rose hips are sometimes nicknamed "itchy-bums"! If you’re lucky enough to have these little fruits growing in your garden, discover all the tips for drying them and enjoying their many benefits throughout the year.
Rose hips, the fruit of the wild rose
Caring for and Harvesting Rose Hips
Rose hips can be found on dog roses and wild roses. In the wild, the dog rose is a shrub commonly found in temperate climates: it grows in hedgerows, at the edge of woodlands, and up to around 2,000 metres in altitude. The rose hips produced by these plants are actually false fruits: the red part that ripens is just the flower’s receptacle. The true fruit is found inside, in the form of achenes. They can be eaten as they are or dried.
Which are the best varieties for drying?
There are many varieties of roses: if you want to grow rose hips and dry them, you can’t just choose any rose bush. Indeed, you should select a European variety of rose hips to ensure berries of around 4 cm in diameter.
The most well-known variety is Rosa canina, but there are other options: Rosa arvensis, Rosa rubiginosa with delicately scented leaves, or Rosa sempervirens, among others.
Harvesting Rose Hips: How to Do It
You can start picking your rose hips from October onwards, when the first frosts have softened the fruits slightly. However, some people begin harvesting as early as August or September, when the fruits are still firm. At this stage, it’s particularly easy to split them in half, remove the seeds and irritating hairs, and eat them as they are.
Harvesting rose hips
If you pick the rose hips later, when they’re soft, you won’t be able to open them by hand. However, once you’re back home, you can cook them and strain them to remove the hairs, with the aim of making jellies or syrups. Soft fruits are sweeter, which also enhances their flavour when drying.
Everything You Need to Know About Drying Rose Hips
To enjoy rose hips all year round, it couldn’t be simpler: pick them when they’re ripe, then dry them! They’ll keep for several months without any trouble, and you can even freeze them if you like.
Oven Drying
After harvesting, start by sorting through your rose hips, keeping only the good ones. Place them on a baking tray, then put them in a preheated oven at 45–50°C.
When drying rose hips in the oven this way, it takes about 8 hours, and it’s recommended to gradually increase the oven temperature during the process, up to 60°C.
Remember to open the oven door occasionally to allow moisture to escape. You can stir the fruits by gently shaking the tray, but avoid touching them with your hands or utensils like a spatula or spoon.
Drying in an Electric Dehydrator
If you’re lucky enough to have a dehydrator, you can dry your rose hips even more easily. Here too, start by sorting to remove any debris or bad fruits.
Then, place the rose hips in your electric dehydrator for 9 to 12 hours. Some more powerful models can complete the process in less time, around 6 to 8 hours.
Always make sure to follow the recommended drying time, otherwise the berries may crumble easily when handled.
Dried rose hips
Storing and Using Rose Hips
Harvested from September until the first autumn frosts, rose hips can be stored at home all year round if you know the right methods.
Some Storage Tips
Rose hips can easily be frozen as they are. But if you’ve taken the time to dry them in the oven or dehydrator, you don’t even need to freeze them to enjoy them throughout the winter!
Avoid storing dried rose hips in plastic containers; opt for fabric bags instead. Alternatively, you can use glass jars, provided you seal them with a cloth secured at the top with string.
How to Use Rose Hips in Cooking
Rose hips can be used to make jams and jellies. More surprisingly, some people mix them with tomatoes to create a unique-flavoured ketchup. Once dried, these berries become the perfect ingredient for homemade herbal teas. You can also add them to various savoury recipes and sauces to play with flavours, textures, and sweet-savoury combinations.
Rose Hip Tea
An Ingredient with Countless Benefits!
Rose hips aren’t just prized for their taste: they are a fruit rich in vitamin C, as well as vitamins B1 and B2. They contain potassium, antioxidants, and flavonoids.
If you have rose hips in your garden, remember to harvest them in autumn to cook, dry, or even freeze them, so you can enjoy them whenever you like.
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