For a body-warming taste-treat on these cooler fall evenings, try adding this tasty Rosehip Concentrate to a hot apple cider; or for a refreshing, hot-weather drink, you can add it to a sparkling water or soda over ice. This versatile liquid can also be used to make a very tasty fruit leather; as a base for jams and jellies (especially a homemade wild grape jam); or use it as a waffle or pancake syrup.
Because some of the high vitamin-C content in rosehips is destroyed during the cooking process, rather than processing it under a high heat, you may prefer to freeze it for later use. (for other delightful homemade recipes using rosehips in foods, facial and/or bath preparations, go to betweenclosefriends.com)
After opening or defrosting your homemade rosehip concentrate, make sure you refrigerate it between uses.
5 lbs fresh or dried organic rosehips
3 broken cinnamon sticks
cloves and grated nutmeg to taste
½ cup brown sugar (optional)
1 cup honey (optional)
- Carefully and thoroughly clean your collected organic rosehips. Then put them in a large enamel or glass pot, just barely covering them with water.
- Simmer them for 2 hours or until they are soft and mushy. (Alternatively, you can soak the rosehips in water overnight, then simmer slowly the next morning for about an hour, or until they are soft).
- Mash the mushy rosehips in the pot with a potato masher; then strain them through a sieve.
- Return the resulting thick juice to the pot, and add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg.
- Cook over medium heat until the mixture is a thicker syrup. Then strain the syrup, removing the cinnamon sticks, cloves and any remaining residue.
- Add the sugar or honey, if desired, making sure you stir it in well to dissolve it completely.
- Pour your rosehip concentrate into small, hot, sterilized jelly jars.
- Seal and process the jars in a boiling water bath for 54 minutes. (Or as stated above, you may freeze your concentrate and avoid this heating process, thus preserving more of the vitamin C value)
- If you processed your concentrate, allow it to cool undisturbed. Then check to make sure it has been sealed securely.
- Store in a cool dry place, and use as needed, refrigerating any unused concentrate left in the jar.