Rose hip, Fruit
The rose hip is the berry-like fruit of the rose plant, in genus Rosa of family Rosaceae, after the bloom has died. It is also known as rose haw, and is typically red or orange, but can be dark purple to black in some species. The forming of rose hips begin in spring, and ripen in late summer through autumn. The hips are best harvested after the first frost, when they are bright red and slightly soft. Each hips comprises a fleshy outer layer which contains up to 150 seeds embedded in a matrix of fine hairs. Before using the hips in recipe, the irritating hairs need to be removed. Rose hips have a tangy, fruity flavor similar to that of cranberries, and can be eaten fresh, dried or preserved. They are used to make herbal tea, jam, jelly, syrup, marmalade,, beverages, pies, soup, bread, and wine. Rose hips are rich in vitamin C, and also some vitamin A and B, essential fatty acids and antioxidant flavonoids. Rosa rugosa has the tastiest rose hips among all the roses, with the fruits resemble to tomatoes. Rose hips have both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. They contain carotenoid pigments, plant sterols, tocotrienols and a very high level of anthocyanins, catechins and other polyphenolics, known phytochemicals to protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and useful in the treatment of influenza-like infections, diarrhea, and various urinary tract disorders.  Rose hip of Rosa canina (Dog Rose) Author: Júlio Reis (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic) | ||
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