By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 4
198 cal · 120 min
Rose Hip Cordial
Recipe GLPRd9a05ea4d526f2
A vibrant, vitamin-rich rose hip cordial infused with the delicate tartness of lemon. This traditional French-inspired syrup captures the floral essence of wild rose hips and can be served diluted with water or sparkling water for a refreshing beverage, or drizzled over desserts and yogurt.
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Ingredients
1 pound fresh rose hips
5 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 juice of 1 lemon
Directions
Rinse the rose hips thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt and debris. Trim off the stem ends and split each hip in half to expose the seeds.
In a large pot, bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the prepared rose hips and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer gently for 30 to 40 minutes, until the rose hips are very soft and breaking down.
Remove the pot from heat and carefully strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the rose hip solids.
Return the strained rose hip liquid to the pot and stir in the sugar over medium heat, stirring until completely dissolved. Do not boil.
Remove from heat and add the fresh lemon juice, stirring well to combine. Let the cordial cool to room temperature, then transfer to clean glass bottles or jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
Comments
Rose hips are not a staple at Charlotte grocers—Harris Teeter and Food Lion may carry them dried in the tea or supplement aisle, but fresh hips are a specialty item that typically requires a trip to a farmers' market or health-food store, which is a real cost for a weeknight project. The cordial costs little once made (sugar and lemon juice are pennies), but the time is honest only if you already have hips on hand; the 120 minutes counts simmering and straining but does not account for sourcing. The drink keeps well and reheats smoothly, making it ideal for batch prep, and it suits a household that plans ahead rather than improvises. This is a rewarding project for someone with access to foraged or mail-ordered rose hips, but it asks a special trip from most readers.
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