I come from rose hips

Rose Hip Wine - A Story Drink

If you've ever had the pleasure of wandering down country paths, you've surely noticed the thorny bushes filled with shiny red fruits that call for your attention. These are rose hips, fruits full of flavor and history that remind us of our grandparents and old traditions. Today, I invite you to discover with me how to make rose hip wine, a fragrant and refreshing drink that blends nature with craftsmanship.

Total preparation time: 5 weeks (actually, just a few minutes of daily activity)
Number of servings: 1 3-liter demijohn

Necessary ingredients:
- 500 g fresh rose hips
- 500 g acacia honey (or honey of your choice)
- Approximately 2 liters of lukewarm water

The history of rose hip wine is closely linked to folk traditions, when people would utilize the fruits of the earth to create beverages that uplifted their spirits. This simple and natural recipe takes us back to times when each ingredient had a story and significance. Rose hips are not only delicious but also rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and have benefits for the immune system. Therefore, besides the unique flavor it brings, rose hip wine can also be an ally for your health.

Making rose hip wine is a simple process, but it requires a bit of patience and dedication. Here’s how you can create this delicacy step by step:

Step 1: Gathering the rose hips
Start by picking the rose hips. Make sure to choose ripe but firm fruits. Avoid those that are too soft or damaged. After gathering the rose hips, wash them well to remove impurities. Remove the stems and black spots, as these can affect the final taste.

Step 2: Preparing the demijohn
Choose a glass demijohn with a capacity of 3 liters. It is important that it is clean and sterilized to prevent the wine from contamination. You can use hot water or a solution of water and vinegar to clean the demijohn.

Step 3: Mixing the ingredients
Place the cleaned rose hips in the demijohn. Add the acacia honey over the rose hips. Honey is an essential ingredient that not only sweetens the drink but also gives it a special aroma.

Step 4: Preparing the water
Heat the water to a gentle temperature, without bringing it to a boil. Ideally, the water should be below 40 degrees Celsius, as honey loses its properties at high temperatures. Add the warm water to the demijohn, ensuring there is enough water to completely cover the rose hips.

Step 5: Mixing
Seal the demijohn tightly with a cork. Gently shake the demijohn to mix the ingredients. It’s important to do this twice a day for about 5 weeks. This motion will help extract the flavors from the rose hips and blend them with the honey.

Step 6: Tasting
After 5 weeks of waiting, your rose hip wine should be ready for tasting. Its aroma will remind you of Tokay wine, with fruity notes and a pleasant sweetness.

When serving rose hip wine, you can opt for some delicious combinations. It pairs wonderfully with aged cheeses or chocolate desserts, but can also be enjoyed simply as a refreshing drink after a long day.

Useful tips:
- If you prefer a more tart wine, you can add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the mixture for an interesting contrast.
- You can experiment with different types of honey, each offering a different character to the final drink.
- Make sure to check the state of the wine periodically to observe the evolution of the flavors.

Frequently asked questions:
1. Can I use dried rose hips?
- Ideally, you should use fresh rose hips, but if you don’t have access, you can also try dried ones. In this case, the dried rose hips should be rehydrated in warm water before use.

2. How do I store rose hip wine?
- Once the wine is ready, you can store it in a closed glass bottle, in the dark and at a constant temperature. It is recommended to consume it within a year.

3. Is this wine alcoholic?
- Rose hip wine is a fermented drink, but the alcohol content is considerably lower than that of traditional wines, due to the preparation method.

Now that you have all the necessary information, all that’s left is to get started! Making rose hip wine is not just a culinary process, but a journey back in time, where each step reminds you of traditions and the authentic taste of nature. After the five weeks of waiting, I’m sure you will enjoy an extraordinary wine to share with your loved ones. It may even become a family recipe passed down from generation to generation!