Keeping hydrated is vital, especially in winter when one does not really feel like drinking. I make cold infusions to make my water more exciting. This rose hip cold infusion not only tastes great, it looks pretty as well.
Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Rose Hip Cold Infusion ♥
Let’s talk about rose hips
Did you know that rose hips are considered a fruit? You will find them on rose plants after pollination of flowers in spring or early summer. They will ripen in late summer and all the way through autumn. Look out for these orange, red, dark purple of black fruits next time you see a rose bush. Do you remember itchy powder from your school days? These come from the hairs inside the rose hips. If you eat them raw be sure to remove these first! Rose hips can be used to make jams, syrups and teas. Or like I have done here, to make a cold infusion. You might even find rose hip tea, which would not surprise me in rural England. And they can be used in savoury applications such as bread, pies and soup.
Rose Hip Cold Infusion
It is not unusual to find a herbal tea blend of rose hips and hibiscus. These two seem to be the perfect flavour combination.Together with rose buds, this was the base of my rose hip cold infusion. I used the hips and rosebuds for their rose flavour, and the hibiscus for colour. Then dried citrus zest was added to make the infusion have a little zing. Other drinks using this fruit include mead, and pálinka. Palinka is is a traditional fruit brandy from the old Austro-Hungarian Empire countries. The national soft drink of Slovenia, cockta, is a fruity-tasting beverage made from rose hips. You can make a syrup with the hips as well as redcurrants and cranberries. Take care when using this ingredient that you have not bought ones that have been treated for arts and crafts, or pot pourri.
Take a look at this inspiring recipe for ♥ Rose Hip Cold Infusion ♥ from Lavender and Lime #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
Rose Hip Cold Infusion
Ingredients
- 500 mls water
- 10 dried rosebuds
- 2 dried rosehips
- 5 mls dried citrus zest
- 1 g dried hibiscus flowers
Method
- Place the water, rose buds, rose hips, zest and hibiscus into a jug
- Place into the fridge overnight to allow the flavours to steep
- Strain and enjoy, sweetening to taste if necessary
See the links below for blog posts I published on December 3:
- 2023: Alex Cross Must Die
- 2021: Liquorice Biscuits
- 2018: Coriander Butter
- 2017: Hiding In Plain Sight
- 2015: Christmas Mince
- 2014: December 2014 Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2010: Snoek Braai
This does look refreshing tho’ methinks I would experience a few hassles getting the ingredients . . . just as well, for some reason, I have never had problems with copious amounts of the stuff coming out of our taps. . .:) !
I am surprised I can no longer find rose buds here 🙁
Delicious
Thank you!
Looks really good. I still have some rose buds, bet I can get some dried hibiscus flowers in our health food shops.
Hope you can!
I love rose hip – I even made jam from its fruit. And of course I use petals for syrup and jam!
Oh, I really want to try that jam 🙂
I used to grow rosella plants, aka are the hibiscus flowers, I think, but I’ve never made rosehip syrup. I have drunk it though and it is tasty. We don’t have enough roses growing around here in this climate unfortunately. Too many sprays are needed. Very interesting content though Tandy.
I would not try and use commercial roses, for sure! And how lovely to have your own rosella plants 🙂
I’ll bet this drink is really healthy too and high in Vitamin C. It looks good but the ingredients would be difficult to find here.
I am surprised you say that as I thought you could get everything on Amazon! I am struggling here to find rose buds 🙂