Rose Hip Jam Recipe - Foraged Food for Beginners

Today we take a look at how to make a simple jam made from rose hips. Rose hips, are the "fruit" from which rose flowers protrude on various species of roses. When cold weather sets in and the leaves and flower pedals of the rose bush fall, the rose hips are revealed. Most commonly the color of the hip is a bright red. Roses are very common and hips are often plentiful on the plant, so it makes for a great place to get started in the world of foraging foods.

Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa) and Sweet briars (Rosa rubiginosa) are three varieties that work particularly well. Ask your horticulturalist friend for advice if you have any uncertainty about finding an appropriate rose variety. Avoid any bush you suspect as having been treated with pesticides.

Many recipes want you to squeeze out the seeds from each individual hip, but I have found that if you simply simmer the hips in water and then push the softened fruit through a sieve or food mill, the seeds will be left behind and I didn't experience any adverse effects.

Once you have processed the hips and removed the seeds, weigh the yield. Calculate 2/3 of this weight. This is the amount of sugar you will add. Now simply simmer the mix gently while stirring frequently until the jam has thickened up nicely.

The finished jam will keep in your refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. If you plan to can/jar your jam, make sure you read about how to properly sterilize and seal your containers. Here is a link for quick reference:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-...

I hope you enjoy this video. Foraging is a fun way to engage with the natural world around you. Often times you don't even have to go that far to find something interesting and tasty to cook with.