The fruit of the Rose! Is there anything sweeter? Rosehips are brimming with medicinal, culinary and magickal properties. Often overlooked in favor of its fragrant precursor, the Rose, which has its own mystical allure and myriad of uses. But lets unveil just some of the secrets of this tiny fruit.
Rosehips are the fruits of wild rose species, often found in temperate regions around the world. Unlike their cultivated cousins, true wild roses typically have simple, five-petaled flowers in shades of pink or white. As autumn approaches, these blossoms give way to bright red or orange fruits - the rosehips. They tend to favor edges of forests, meadows, and thrive along the roadsides.
Rosehips are a powerhouse of vitamin C. One might even call rose hip tea a tonic for the soul, thanks to its mucilaginous properties that delicately coat and soothe mucus membranes. Particularly handy for treating ailments like sore throats, it can be a comforting brew following a bout of stomach flu, dysentery, or giardia. Moreover, the mucilage ensures a gentle care of the digestive tract, and some even experience very mild laxative effects.
The best time to harvest rosehips is after the first frost. When the fruit is dark in color, slightly wrinkled and very soft. This is when they are most sweet and palatable. They pull off the stems easily. Some also believe that the touch of frost imbues them with a special energy. Harvest on Venus Friday for extra magick ✨
I was always taught that "fresh is best", so use them right away for any medicine making and culinary dishes. If you can't use right away, freeze them for later use, or dry them using a dehydrator. If you have a drier environment this time of year, you can spread the rosehips out on a tray in a dark place. Once fully dried, they can be stored in airtight containers.
Beyond their mundane uses, rosehips hold special significance in the world of magick. Just as roses are symbols of love, their fruits carry that energy forward. Ruled by the planet Venus, the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, and harmony, it directs our affections, desire for connection and all the ways we express beauty and sensuality. Use in spells associated with love.
Carry a few with you as a protective charm or brew a rosehip tea for a healing potion. Some witches use rosehips for divination, casting the hips and seeds into water and reading the patterns they form.
🌹 Wild Rosehip + Honey Simple Syrup 🌹
Rose hip simple syrup is a delightful way to capture the essence of these vitamin-rich fruits. The syrup can be used in cocktails, mocktails, desserts, or drizzled over pancakes or waffles
- 2 cups wild Rosehips, cleaned and free of stems and dried flower ends
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 1 cup local honey
Purify the rosehips and rid of any withered stems or blossoms. Simply smash or blend and pulse just until there coarsely broken. Be sure to wear gloves or wash hands during this process as the hairs of the seeds can be quite irritating when touching the skin (exercise caution, see contraindications). Add to your cauldron, along with the water and ignite your flame and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and allow the energies to mingle for about 15-20 minutes. Use a fine mesh strainer to separate the liquid from the rose hip remanent,. Press with a gentle force to ensure every precious drip is captured. Compost the remnants or save for another spell. Place the separated spirit liquid back into the cauldron and ignite the flame once again. Sprinkle in the raw sugar and stir with a wand (or spoon) until the crystals have dissolved. Remove from heat for a few minutes and pour in the honey. Pour into clean bottles, seal with a charm and store in the fridge or another cool dark place. This elixir keeps fresh for 3-4 moon cycles🌙
Rosehip Oxymel Elixir 🌹🍯🍎
Oxymels are preparations that intertwine the sharp clarity of vinegar with the soothing embrace of honey. When infused with rose hips, the potion becomes an elixir of balance, drawing upon the properties of each ingredient.
- Wild Rosehips
- ACV
- Local Honey
Begin by purifying the Rosehips and remove any lingering stems, leaves or dried blossoms ensuring only the purest parts of the fruit remains. Fill a jar of choice with wild rosehips. Pour over the top local honey, as much as you desire. Fill the rest with ACV. In a mortar and pestle or blender, crush the Rosehips to release their energy. Be sure to wear gloves or wash hands during this process as the hairs of the seeds can be quite irritating when touching the skin (exercise caution, see contraindications). In a clean, sterilized jar layer the crushed rose hips. Pour over the golden nectar of honey, allowing its sweetness to seep into the Rosehips. Next, introduce the apple cider vinegar, drowning the honeyed Rosehips. With the ingredients combined, seal your jar tightly. Label and place in a cool, dark place, letting the ingredients meld and marry for 1-2 moon cycles. Shake whenever you can with love in your heart, to gently reawaken the energy of the ingredients. After the waiting period, strain the oxymel to separate the liquid elixir from the Rosehip remnants. Press the rose hips to extract every precious drop of the precious elixir. Offer gratitude to the remnants and return them to the earth or save for another ritual. Pour the strained oxymel into a sterilized bottle and seal with a kiss. Store in a cool, dark place.
Partake of this rosehip oxymel by adding a couple tablespoons to hot water. Perhaps one of my favorite herbal tonics! Add spoonful to teas, drizzle over salads, or infuse into dressings. You can also consume directly for its harmonizing properties.
For a deep dive into this magickal herb fly over to the Herbarium. Find Rosehip seed oil in our Facial Serum
*CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hidden within the heart of these seeds lie minuscule hairs that can be surprisingly irksome if ingested or if they brush against the skin. Historically, these pesky hairs were mischievously employed by pranksters as a form of 'itching powder', a testament to their irritating nature. To enjoy the bounties of rose hips without the discomfort, it's advisable to meticulously strain your teas, syrups, and tinctures. Alternatively, for those seeking a hassle-free experience, consider investing in 'seedless' cut rose hips, which have had these nettlesome hairs diligently removed. You can also use the recipes using whole rosehips without braking them open to ensure safety.
I wish for this blog to ignite a curiosity within you, beckoning you to embrace the fruit of the rose and weave it into your fall enchantments
Love and Magick, Colleen 💖
