Rosehip, how to take it and what recipes to make

The dog rose, whose botanical name is Rosa Lutetiana , is a thorny shrub that belongs to the Rosa family Rosaceae , also called “ wild rose ” because it grows spontaneously and is able to grow even in the most inaccessible places.

The name was given to it by Linnaeus, and it owes the adjective “ canina ” to Pliny the Elder who, it seems, managed to cure a Roman soldier with the symptoms of rabies caused by a bite from an infected dog, thanks to a decoction obtained from this plant.

In fact, dog rose has been used by man since ancient times as a food and as a "medicine", even if it was not clear what made it truly special. Only in the early 1900s was it understood that its richness is mainly due to the content of Vitamin C.

In fact, today, herbal teas, infusions and jams based on Rosa Canina are widely used. But let's see in detail what rosa canina is, how to take it and some recipes to fully enjoy all the properties and the unique taste of this extraordinary berry!

The Fruit

The plant of the Dog Rose It is a large, bushy shrub of a perennial and deciduous type, that is, the foliage falls during the winter.

The flowers, which bloom around May-July, are simple, have five petals of a color that varies from white, to fuchsia, to pale pink and are not very fragrant. From the modification of the floral receptacle, berries develop that contain achenes inside them.

The berries are ovoid in shape, bright and shiny red-orange in colour, while the achenes, which are the actual fruits of the Rosa Canina, derive from the modification of the carpels and each of them contains a seed. The structure as a whole is called rosehip .

Rosa Canina berries are harvested in autumn-winter, when they ripen. Usually, after the first frost because it is the peak of their ripening and therefore they are rich in active ingredients.

Rosehip: how to take it

The rosehip of Rosa Canina is red in color and is characterized by a fleshy consistency. Although edible, its flavor is sour and not very appetizing when fresh. Furthermore, it is difficult to find it on the market as is, while it is now widespread on the market as a supplement or in powder form.

Rosehip powder It's a great way to integrate this precious fruit into your diet.

The color of the powder is very important to understand if there is a balanced ratio between peel, pulp and seeds, typical when the whole rosehip is ground.

In fact, a dark ochre color means that there is a balanced composition of pulp and peel (about 60%) and seeds (about 40%), and is therefore more nutritious. A more yellow color means a higher percentage of seeds inside the powder.

Finally, the processing method is really important: the Rosa Canina must be processed at low temperatures , in this way all the nutrients are preserved intact and the levels of Vitamin C are maintained high.

Recipes with rosehip powder

Rosehip berry powder It is really very practical and convenient to use for many recipes.

It can be dissolved in smoothies or breakfast drinks, making it easy and pleasant to consume. Or it can be added to sweet recipes, cake and biscuit dough.

Rosehip powder lends itself very well to many preparations, let's see together how to take it in some tasty recipes...

Rosehip Tea

A hot and super hydrating drink to enjoy during the cold days of autumn and winter, or in the “cooler” version to enjoy in the warm seasons.

Ingredients :

• Green tea or black tea
• 1 tablespoon of NaturalBio Rosehip Powder
• Organic lemon juice to taste
• 1 teaspoon of NaturalBio Manuka Honey
• Minced ginger (optional)

Preparation:

Prepare green tea or black tea.

Add the rosehip powder and chopped ginger and dissolve in water.

Cover and let rest for 4-5 minutes.

Filter everything and remove the ginger.

Add the Manuka honey and lime juice and mix well.

For the summer version you can cool the drink in the fridge and once ready add a few ice cubes.

Rose Smoothie

An original and delicious idea for a nutritious breakfast or a tasty snack rich in properties!

Ingredients :

• 1 teaspoon of Rosehip Powder NaturalBio
• 1 apple
• 10 strawberries
• 1 peach
• 1 banana
• A glass of vegetable drink or milk

Preparation:

Dice the apple and peach into small cubes, then blend together with all the ingredients until you obtain a smooth and creamy mixture.

If too thick add a little more milk.

Farro Plum Cake with Rosehip

Ingredients :

• 125 g of soft butter
• 175 g sifted spelt flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons of powder NaturalBio Dog Rose
• 1 pinch of salt
• 150 g maple syrup
• 25 gr of Natural Manuka HoneyMore
• Lemon zest (optional)
• 5 tablespoons of vegetable drink or milk

Preparation:

Beat the butter with an electric whisk until it reaches a creamy consistency.

Add a few tablespoons (3/4 tablespoons) of flour and mix for 2 minutes, then add the eggs one at a time (If the mixture seems strange add 1 tablespoon of flour and continue mixing).

Now start mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula, first adding the remaining sifted flour, baking powder, rosehip powder, salt, maple syrup, honey and grated lemon zest. Mix all the ingredients gently with movements from top to bottom until well combined.

Add the milk and continue mixing carefully until you reach a creamy and soft consistency (not liquid), if it is too thick add more milk.

Place the mixture in a greased and floured plum-cake mould and bake in a static oven for 30/35 minutes at 180°. At the end of cooking, test with a toothpick.

Once ready, let it cool before serving.

You can garnish it with rosehip jam!