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 Rosaceae, also called “wild rose” because it grows spontaneously and is able to grow even in the most inaccessible places.

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

In fact, the 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 really special. Only in the early 1900s was it understood that its richness is mainly due to the content of Vitamin C.

In fact, to date, there is widespread use of herbal teas, infusions and jams based on Rosa Canina. But let's see in detail what dog rose is, how to take it and some recipes to fully enjoy all the properties and unique taste of this extraordinary berry!

The Fruit

The plant of the Rosa Canina is a large shrub with a bushy type perennial and deciduous, i.e. the foliage falls during the winter.

The flowers, which bloom around May-July, are simple, have five petals ranging in color from white to fuchsia to pale pink and are not very fragrant. From the modification of the floral receptacle, the berries develop which 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 Dog Rose, derive from the modification of the carpels and each of them contains a seed. The structure as a whole is called rosehip.

The berries of the Dog Rose are harvested in autumn-winter, when they ripen. Usually, after the first frost since this is the peak of their maturation and therefore they are rich in active ingredients.

Rosehip: how to take it

The Rose Hip 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 it is, while it is now widespread on the market as a supplement or in powder form.

Rosa Canina powder is an excellent way to integrate this precious fruit into your diet.

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

In fact, a dark ocher 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 yellowish color means a higher percentage of seeds within the powder.

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

Recipes with rosehip powder

Rosa Canina berry powder is really very practical and convenient to use for many recipes.

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

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

Rosehip Tea

A hot and super hydrating drink to be enjoyed during the cold days of autumn and winter, or in the "fresher" version to be enjoyed in the warm seasons.

Ingredients:

• Green tea or black tea
• 1 tablespoon of Natural Organic Rosehip Powder
• Organic lemon juice to taste
• 1 teaspoon of NaturalBio Manuka honey
• Chopped 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 thesummer version it is possible to 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 Rosa Canina in NaturaleBio Powder
• 1 apple
• 10 strawberries
• 1 peach
• 1 banana
• A glass of vegetable drink or milk

Preparation:

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

If too thick, add a little more milk.

Spelt Plum Cake with Dog Rose

Ingredients:

• 125 g of soft butter
• 175 g of sifted spelled flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons of powder of Rosehip NaturaleBio
• 1 pinch of salt
• 150 g maple syrup
• 25 g of Natural Manuka honey
• Lemon zest (optional)
• 5 tablespoons of vegetable drink or milk

Preparation:

Work 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 incorporate the eggs one at a time (If the dough looks 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 delicately with movements from top to bottom until they are well blended.

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

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

Once ready, let cool before serving.

You can garnish with rosehip jam!