One of the most common questions we are asked is what are rosehips and where do they come from?
Rosehips, also known as rose haw or rose hep, are the berry-like fruit that grow on a few species of rosehip bushes including Rosa Canina (dog rose), Rosa Moschata and Rosa Rubiginosa. They grow wild in many regions of South America, South Africa and Europe and are also farmed.
The rosehip appears on the bush after the flower has blossomed and dropped off. The roses are not like the common rose we grow in a garden or greenhouse.
Part of the apple family, rosehips can grow to be the size of small walnuts. They resemble tiny pomegranate fruits or small tomatoes growing at the tip of the stem and they are typically red-to-orange, but range from dark purple to black in some species.
Native Americans have used roses and rosehips as part of their cuisine for centuries. Our grandparents remember the taste of rosehips steeped in tea, jams and even wines, and in Sweden they make rosehip soup.
It is said that during WWII the people of England were encouraged to get creative with rosehips in their meals because citrus fruits were hard to come by and Rosehips are known to be one of natures richest sources of natural vitamin C.
If you compare the nutritional value of rosehips to its vitamin C laden cousin the orange, you may be surprised at the levels. You will find that certain types of rosehips have between 20 and 40 percent more vitamin C, 25 percent more iron, 28 percent greater calcium content, and 25 times more vitamin A.*
Rosehips are also a great source of vitamin E, selenium, and B-complex vitamins and also contain slim amounts of potassium, magnesium, and silicon.
The rosehips in our Rose-Hip Vital with GOPO are Rosa Canina, which are farmed in the nutrient rich soils of Denmark.
The plants are left to mature for 3 to 4 years with no artificial interference before harvesting. Not only does this give plants time to produce the best quality fruits, it also allows their amazing root system to dive deep into the ground where they can draw precious trace minerals from soil that has not been depleted by modern agricultural practices. Our rosehips absorb a vast array of potent natural vitamins and minerals ensuring the product is a rich source of natural nutrients.
What is special about Rose-Hip Vital is the patented manufacturing and drying processes undertaken on our rosehips, which isolate and activate a patented compound found within the fruit called GOPO. GOPO has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. If the rosehip is manufactured without these patented processes, claims may not be made about efficacy when referring to the 30 scientific studies and nine clinical trials undertaken on Rose-Hip Vital with GOPO.
*Reference The Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
You can read more about our production process here.
