Rosehips: Fruit or Vegetable?
The debate over whether rosehips are a fruit or vegetable has been ongoing for some time.
Rosehips are the fruits of rose bushes (Rosa genus) in the Rosaceae family. While they are often mistaken for vegetables, they are in fact a type of fruit.
Rosehips are well known for their high vitamin C content, making them one of the most nutritious horticultural crops, fruits, and vegetables. Vitamin C is essential for the body to help build and maintain healthy bones, skin, and teeth. It also helps the body absorb iron and is an important antioxidant.
Rosehips are also known for their traditional pharmacological applications. They have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including colds, flu, and digestive problems. They are also believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Rosehips are typically harvested in the fall and can be eaten raw or cooked. They can be made into jams, jellies, and syrups, or dried and used in teas. They can also be used to make rosehip oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids and is used in many skin care products.
So, while rosehips may look like vegetables, they are actually a type of fruit. Not only are they packed with vitamins and minerals, but they also have a variety of traditional medicinal uses. Whether you eat them raw, cooked, or as an oil, rosehips are a nutritious and delicious addition to any diet.