Harvesting Rose Hips
October 10, 2024
How to Use Rose Hips
Rose hips have multiple health benefits to them. They are a rich source of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, aid in digestion, and ease chronic pain. Rose hips can be used in various ways for culinary and skincare purposes. Because rose hips are a great source of antioxidants and have other medicinal properties, they are a great herb for tinctures. You can also just eat rose hips raw or cooked when deseeded.
When used in skincare, rosehips can help reduce scarring, smooth fine lines, and be a natural replacement for retinol. They also have anti-aging and moisturizing properties by softening and repairing damaged skin. You can make rosehip face oils, serums, and toners with whole ingredients using simple recipes found in herbal books or online.
Foraging & Harvesting Rose Hips
Harvesting rose hips can be done in the Fall when the hips have turned orange to red. They should be slightly soft and no longer rock-hard. Depending on the area you’re harvesting in will determine when they ripen. When going foraging I recommend bringing handheld pruners for snipping the rose hips off because sometimes the hips can be tough to pull off. And a little foraging bag or something to collect your rosehips in is helpful.
Once you have located the rose bush you want to harvest from you can start snipping the hips off the stem. I encourage foraging responsibly which includes not taking all the resources off one plant. The hips tend to grow in groups, so take a few from each group but leave plenty for the plant to thrive in the coming year.
When you have collected all that you need, it is time to process the rosehips. Leave them to dry out a bit for a few days. This makes it easier to scoop the seeds and hairs. You will need a cutting board, knife, and spoon for this process. Cut the hips in half and scoop the inside seeds and hairs out. This process can take awhile but it is important to be thorough as the hairs can irritate if ingested. Once all the rosehips are cut and deseeded, rinse them to make sure all the hairs are removed. Then you can proceed to dry them either in the oven or in a dehydrator until they are hard to the touch. Once they are dried you can use them in skincare products or for culinary purposes and enjoy their healing benefits!
Don’t forget to check out our store where you can find organic dried rose hips ready for use!