Rosehip (Rosa canina)

OriginThe fruit that is best after the frost

Itching powder and vitamin bomb in one: The hairs around the kernels have kept generations of schoolyards busy - the outer shell is one of the most valuable wild fruits we have.

The rosehip is botanically not a berry, but a Aggregate nut fruitWhat we eat as fruit is the fleshy receptacle of the flower, and the apparent kernels within it are the actual fruits, each containing a single seed. Between them are fine, barbed hairs – the legendary itching powder that causes intense itching upon skin contact and can irritate the intestinal lining when ingested. Therefore, only the [unclear text] is used medicinally and culinarily. Shell without seeds used.

The shrub - usually the dog rose, Rosa canina, but other wild roses also provide usable rose hips - it grows in hedges, at forest edges, on embankments and fallow land throughout Europe. It is one of the most important wild shrubs overall: the blossoms are a great source of nectar for bees in June, the fruits hang on the tree until winter and feed birds when nothing else is available. The nickname canina It goes back to the ancient idea that the root helped against rabies from dog bites - an effect that does not exist, but a name that has remained.

Harvesting begins in September, and the rule of thumb of the old collectors is correct: after the first frost Rosehips taste significantly better because the fruit acids break down and the skin softens. If you don't want to wait, you can put them in the freezer overnight. The skins are used to make rosehip pulp – the pulp traditionally used in doughnuts in Franconia – as well as jam, syrup, liqueur, and tea.

To useWhat rosehips can do for you

The most famous point first, and with the necessary caveat: The rosehip belongs to 400 to 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C per hundred grams among the fruits richest in vitamin C – twenty to fifty times that of a lemon. However, vitamin C heat-sensitive and light-sensitive. In dried, long-stored tea, most of the vitamins are lost, and some are further lost during brewing. Rosehip tea is therefore not a vitamin supplement. Those seeking the vitamins should use fresh or gently dried rosehip pulp or powder.

In addition, there is an observation that surprises many: the vibrant red color of many Rosehip teas In stores, it often doesn't come from rosehips at all, but from... hibiscus, which is added as a mixing partner. Rosehip peel alone produces a rather pale, mild infusion. It's worth taking a look at the ingredient list.

The most scientifically interesting part is something else. A [something] was found in rosehips. Galactolipid identified, mostly as GOPO abbreviated, which in the laboratory inhibits the migration of white blood cells into inflamed tissue. Several placebo-controlled studies exist for standardized rosehip powder in Osteoarthritis, And a meta-analysis concluded that, on average, pain decreased slightly more than with a placebo. To be honest: the effect is small, the number of studies is limited, and some of the research comes from the manufacturers' own circles. But it's more than with most dietary supplements – and the safety profile is excellent.

Traditionally, rosehips were also considered mildly diuretic and were given for colds and during convalescence. However, there are no reliable studies to support this; the European Medicines Agency has not issued a monograph for rosehip peel. What remains is an excellent, low-acid, and well-tolerated wild fruit that is practically suitable for everyone.

IngredientsThis is what's in the fruit

Next to the Vitamin C The rosehip shell contains plenty Carotenoids Rosehip jam contains primarily lycopene and beta-carotene, which are responsible for the deep red color, as well as vitamin E, B vitamins, flavonoids, tannins, pectins, and fruit acids. The pectin content is high enough that rosehip jam sets practically without the addition of any gelling agent.

The substance that modern research is concerned with is the Galactolipid GOPO (chemically, a galactosyl-diacylglycerol). It is found primarily in the peel and seeds and is relatively heat-stable, which is why rosehip powder – gently ground from the whole dried fruit – is the form studied. In the laboratory, it inhibits the chemotaxis of leukocytes, i.e., the migration of inflammatory cells into tissue; this is the most plausible explanation for the results of the osteoarthritis studies.

And then there are the hairs. They consist of fine, barbed cell extensions and are packed tightly between the nuclei. On the skin, they cause intense itching; in the intestines, they can irritate the mucous membrane. This is why the medicinal drug is called... Cynosbati fructus sine semine - Rosehip shells without seeds. Those who process it themselves halve the fruits and thoroughly scrape out the seeds and hairs with a small spoon, or pass the cooked pulp through a fine sieve.

Enhanced combinationsWhat makes rosehips stronger

A fruit where timing and processing matter more than any combination.

What contradicts itselfIt's best to avoid these combinations.

To which courtWhere she belongs

• HopfenmarkFranconian rosehip pulp - strained, sweetened, in doughnuts and on bread.
• Rosehip jamBoil the peels until soft, pass them through a sieve, boil with sugar - it will gel on its own.
• Rosehip teaTwo teaspoons of peel to 250 ml, steep for ten minutes - mild and pale, that's how it should be.
• Rosehip powderWhether it's muesli, yogurt or smoothie - the form with the osteoarthritis research findings.
• Rosehip syrupWith lemon and sugar - for lemonade and over desserts.
• Rosehip liqueurSoak the fruit in fruit brandy and let it steep for two months.
• Wild fruit chutneyWith onion, vinegar and spices - goes well with game and cheese.
• Rosehip soupA classic in Scandinavia: sweet fruit soup with a cream topping.
• In the muesliDried, seedless shell pieces as a fruity component.
• Bird food on the bushWhat remains feeds blackbirds, thrushes and robins in winter.

As a home remedyHomemade rosehip pulp

Ayurveda & TCMWhat the old systems say

Warning noticesWhen you should be careful

This page provides information and does not replace medical advice. If symptoms persist, please consult a doctor.

Related to the topicRead on and cook along!

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