How to Make Honey Using Rose Hips
Rose hips are seedpods of wild roses. They provide a powerful source of vitamin C preferred by people who strive to only use natural sources in their health regime. Throughout history, people have used rose hips as a home remedy for a wide variety of ailments including the common cold and flus. Rose hip honey is a tasty way to incorporate rose hips into your diet. There are two methods you can use to make rose hip honey; you can strain rose hip juice into sugar and heat until it reaches a honey-like consistency or you can pack rose hips directly into real honey.
Rose Hip Juice and Sugar Method
Gather the rose hips from a rose bush that has not been treated with any pesticides. To do this you must wait until after the rose bloom has fallen off. The seedpod is usually bright red but can sometimes be green or brown. Carefully remove the pods from the bush and wash them thoroughly.
- Rose hips are seedpods of wild roses.
- There are two methods you can use to make rose hip honey; you can strain rose hip juice into sugar and heat until it reaches a honey-like consistency or you can pack rose hips directly into real honey.
Put the seedpods in a heavy saucepan and add just enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and allow the rose hips to simmer for 20 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the rose hips sit in the saucepan until cooled. Pour the liquid through cheesecloth into another saucepan. This may take a few minutes because the cheesecloth acts as a strainer to remove all solid particles from the juice.
Add 1 cup of sugar for each cup of rose hip juice and bring to a boil. Allow the mixture to boil for five minutes while stirring to keep it from sticking to the pan. Pour it into a canning jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator.
- Put the seedpods in a heavy saucepan and add just enough water to cover them.
- Allow the mixture to boil for five minutes while stirring to keep it from sticking to the pan.
Real Honey Method
Wash 1 cup of rose hips and remove the inner seeds by gently cracking open with the back of a spoon. Discard the seeds and place the remaining hips into a quart-sized canning jar.
Pour 1 cup of honey slowly into the jar until all of the rose hips are covered.
Close with the canning jar lid and place in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before using. Return any unused portion to the refrigerator.
Tip
Pick rose hips in the fall season for optimum nutritional benefits.
If wild rose bushes are not available to you, rose hips can be purchased at many health food stores.
Warning
Do not gather rose hips from a wild rose bush unless you are certain it has not been exposed to pesticides.
Related Articles
References
Tips
- Pick rose hips in the fall season for optimum nutritional benefits.
- If wild rose bushes are not available to you, rose hips can be purchased at many health food stores.
Warnings
- Do not gather rose hips from a wild rose bush unless you are certain it has not been exposed to pesticides.
Writer Bio
Yvonne Ward began her professional writing career in 2004. She wrote a true-crime book published in 2010 and has two more underway. She also has a strong background in business, education and farm living. Ward is pursuing a Master of Arts in history and culture from Union Institute and University.
