Are you one of those people who drink herbal tea every season? Then you must also love the captivating color and exquisite scent of rosehip! But do you know that you can use the rosehip plant in different ways?
Since the beginning of life on Earth, nature has guided living beings in terms of food and drink. Especially plants, which are among the basic foodstuffs of living beings, play an important role as a natural alternative to many ready-packaged products today. Each type of plant, all of great value, continues to accompany people in many areas of life, from teas to jams, from aromatic oils to candles. Rosehip is one of these plants! Rosehip tea, which provides tranquility especially on cold winter days, can be consumed fresh or dry. So, what is rosehip? In which areas can it be used? Let's discover!
1. WHAT IS ROSEHIP?
Rosehip is a furry plant species belonging to the rose family, predominantly growing in Europe and Northwest Africa. The homeland of rosehip, or by its Latin name "Rosa Canina", is considered to be West Asia and Anatolia. Rosehip is also known as wild rose or rose apple in different regions. While rosehip usually has red and orange colors, yellow and black varieties are also found in some regions. This fruit, which has over 100 species, grows and develops in autumn, unlike roses, not in spring and summer.
2. WHERE DOES ROSEHIP GROW?
Rosehip mostly grows in the Black Sea, Marmara, and Eastern Anatolia regions of Turkey. Rosehip plants are also rarely found in the Aegean and Central Anatolia. With an annual production of 500 tons, Gümüşhane ranks first in rosehip cultivation in Turkey. A large part of rosehip production in Gümüşhane is processed using traditional methods.
3. HOW IS ROSEHIP USED?
Rosehip can be used by incorporating it into many recipes in the kitchen. However, there are also some points to consider when preparing a recipe with rosehip. First, you need to cut the rosehip plant in half and remove its seeds. This process is important to prevent an unpleasant taste in recipes.
The rosehip fruits must first be washed in a strainer and thoroughly dried. After these stages, the rosehip is ready for immediate use. However, the fruits can optionally be dried or stored in the freezer. If you want to dry rosehip, you can spread it in a sunny area or dry it in the oven. So, how can you use rosehip?
3.1. Tea and Fruit Juice
You can use dried rosehip plants, dried in the sun or oven, to make herbal tea throughout the year. In addition, you can boil rosehip and turn it into fruit juice. You can sweeten both beverages with any natural honey varieties you wish.
3.2. Salads and Desserts
By adding fresh rosehip to salads, you can ensure that it is consumed regularly by your family at home. You can also place rosehip at the forefront of your marmalade, jam, tart, cake, etc. recipes and consume it at breakfast and snacks.
3.3. Room Scent
Thanks to its sharp scent, rosehip is also used to change the atmosphere of a room. You can change the room scent by burning incense or dripping aromatic oils containing rosehip into an oil burner.
4. ROSEHIP USAGE AREAS
With its unique scent, rosehip was used in the Middle Ages both for its pleasant smell and in food and drinks. During this period, rosehip, considered a symbol of good luck and strength, was also burned as incense to ward off bad fortune.
4.1. Rosehip Usage in Drinks and Foods
As everyone knows, rosehip is mostly consumed as tea. You can consume dried rosehip plant as tea by boiling it in water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Rosehip, which contains a high amount of vitamin C, is especially preferred during illness and stress periods in winter. In addition, thanks to its aromatic flavor, rosehip can also be consumed as fruit juice, jam, and marmalade.
4.2. Rosehip Usage as Incense
Rosehip, with its deep-rooted history dating back to the Middle Ages, has also been used as incense for years. According to beliefs from that period, rosehip kept bad luck away from homes. It was believed to give people power, strength, and good fortune. In line with these characteristics, in some cultures, homes were decorated with rosehip plants during festivals. Rosehip, which is still used as incense today, can be preferred at times when one wants to get away from stress and fatigue, and when tranquility and peace are sought.
4.3. Rosehip Usage in Industry
Due to its unique aromatic scent, rosehip is generally used in the production of aromatic oils. In addition, it is also preferred in the cosmetic industry in the formula of personal care products and perfumes.
5. WHAT IS ROSEHIP GOOD FOR?
Rosehip helps maintain the normal function of the immune system due to the compounds it contains. Due to its rich content of antioxidants, vitamin C, and fatty acids, this valuable plant is also an ideal source for skin care.
6. WHAT SUBSTANCES DOES ROSEHIP CONTAIN?
The nutritional content of rosehip varies depending on the soil and growing conditions. For example, exposure of rosehip to high amounts of heat and water causes a decrease in its vitamin C content. Rosehip generally contains antioxidant-rich substances such as catechin, quercetin, and ellagic acid. Rosehip is also a very rich plant species in terms of vitamins C and E. This fruit gets its red/orange color from carotenoid pigments called lycopene and beta-carotene.
7. WHERE IS ROSEHIP SOLD?
While it may be somewhat difficult to find fresh rosehip in urban life, you can find dried rosehip in herbalist shops and markets. In addition, you can also obtain aromatic oils containing rosehip from pharmacies.
To take the pleasure you get from rosehip recipes to a whole new level and bring together flavors from nature, you can also choose Balparmak natural honey varieties!
Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from various scientific sources and should not be taken as health advice in any way. Before starting to use products containing rosehip for any purpose, you should definitely consult your doctor to find out whether this plant is suitable for you and whether it can provide the effect you are aiming for.
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