Every year I go wild rose hip picking and every year I'm amazed that more people don't bother to harvest these berries which grow wild, in abundance, in Canada. A bit about Rosehips...
Did you know that three average rose hips have as much Vitamin C as a medium-sized orange! During World War II hips were harvested in Britian when imports of citrus products were limited, most of these were turned into syrups and supplements that were given to children. Rosehips also contain high levels of antioxidant flavonoids with known anti-inflammatory properties. Hips are also used as a laxative and diuretic. Hips ripen in September just before the first frost and should look like the ones above when harvested.
Dehydrated Rose Hips
To dehydrate rose hips first twist off tops then wash well.
If you are using them for a tea put them on dehydrator racks as is and dry at 105 for aprox 24/hrs. To dry them to eat like a raisin or to candy you must split them open and remove the seeds before drying (this can be a little tedious but is worth the effort if you have the time). Other options are using the pulp to make smoothies, raw soups, or fruit leathers.
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