A Pot of Rosehip Tea

They grew everywhere and were found in every shade of light pink to a vibrant
fuschia. The yellow centers reminded me of smiley faces. I would always pick a
bouquet for my great grandmother. She spoke very little English and I did not quite
understand her when she spoke Finnish. She, however, seemed pleased every time I
brought the roses to her.

In the late fall I recall picking the red pods on the roses that were no longer blooming.
I would chew on them. One time my great grandmother caught me in the act of
chewing rose hips and promptly handed me a pail. I knew that whenever I was given
a pail I was to pick something. She said in Finnish the same thing she always said
when I would bring her roses. I figured that she wanted me to gather the rose hips
and I was right.

She wanted the rose hips for tea. She kept a tea kettle of water simmering on the
wood stove. The rose hips were put in the kettle and allowed to steep all night. Every
morning we were treated to a cup of rose hip tea sweetened with a bit of honey. I
would sip the tea with my elders and feel pretty special because I was the one who
gathered the rose hips.

Thinking back on my childhood I had very few, if any, colds in the winter. Rose hips
are a good source of vitamin C which is good for the immune system. I make the
rose hip tea today much as it was made in those days. I make it in a crockpot. At
night I fill the pot with water, add a few handfuls of rose hips, turn the pot on high and
leave it alone until morning. A cup of rose hip tea and a bit of honey in the morning or
anytime is a refreshing change of pace from the ordinary, and also good for you.

About The Author

Bonita Anderson

Find tea pots at http://www.pothaven.com.

A Pot of Rosehip Tea
by Bonita Anderson

Winter is knocking at the door
and the cold and flu season is
right behind him. I do my best to
keep the latter two outside with
old man winter. They are not the
type of guest I want in my
home. There are things one can
do to help stay well this time of
year. Keeping your immune
system in tip top shape is one.

As a child I loved exploring the
hundred acre woods around my
grandparents estate. In the early
summer the air was filled with
the fragrance of wild roses.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.