What Are Rose Hips? How Bigelow Tea Sources This Vitamin C-Rich Ingredient
Updated March 26, 2026
Rose hips are the small, round fruit of the rose plant, known for their tangy flavor and used as a key ingredient in many Bigelow herbal teas. At Bigelow Tea, our commitment to crafting the finest teas starts with sourcing the highest quality ingredients. The Bigelow Team had the privilege of visiting our long-standing rose hips partners in Chile, South America. This educational trip deepened our understanding how rose hips are grown and harvested. We invite you to join us on this rose hip learning tour right here on our blog.
How Are Rose Hips Harvested? The Journey from Field to Cup
Rose hips are the small, round fruit that grows on rose plants after the flowers bloom. This small yet mighty fruit comes from a varietal of the rose plant and is celebrated for its tangy flavor and high vitamin C content, as highlighted by The Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. Rose hips grow in many parts of the world but those grown in Chile have a unique and delicious flavor. Chile’s wide range of different geography creates multiple growing regions each with their own soil and climate that create a distinct and delicious flavor that stands out from other parts of the world. Rose hips, unlike many herbs, are actually wild grown. The exact region they are grown in, the weather patterns, and the harvest timing all play an important role in their final taste profile.
Our dedicated family partners established their business in 1975 and have been dedicated to the vibrant, nutrient-rich fruit, rose hips. Each year, they harvest an impressive 20 million pounds of fresh rose hips, employing around 3,000 seasonal workers who meticulously hand-pick the fruit over an eight-week period from March to April. This community-driven effort is more than just a job; it's a generational tradition that supports families and uplifts local economies. Workers return annually to harvest, even those who have moved to cities for other work. Some have been part of this tradition for nearly 40 years, providing excellent opportunities for the older generation who may struggle to find employment elsewhere in Chile.
The processing of rose hips is truly a labor of love. After harvesting, the fruit undergoes rigorous cleaning, drying, and milling process. The drying process is carefully controlled to preserve the integrity and flavor of the rose hips without cooking the fruit. After processing, rose hips from various regions in Chile are blended together to meet the exact flavor standards set by the Bigelow family.
How Rose Hips Shape the Flavor of Bigelow Teas
Rose hips play a special role across Bigelow Tea recipes, adding depth, tartness, and complexity that ties flavors together. Here are a few teas where you can taste the difference rose hips make:
- Bigelow Tea Green Tea with Elderberry Plus Vitamin C: rose hip adds to the depth of the tea's fruity character
- Bigelow Tea Blackberry Citrus Plus Zinc Herbal Tea: rose hip helps meld together the sweet berry and tart citrus together
- Bigelow Tea Ginger Peach Turmeric Herbal Tea: rose hip helps bring out the fruitiness of the peach offset by the earthy turmeric
- Bigelow I Love Lemon plus Vitamin C: the rose hip adds the perfect balance of tartness and depth to the bright lemon flavor
Why Bigelow Tea Sources Rose Hips from Chile
Bigelow Tea’s visit to Chile deepened our appreciation for every rose hip that goes into our teas. It reflects our valued partnership and our mutual commitment to quality and sustainability. The dedication of the harvesters, the precision of the processing, and the care of the farmers all contribute to the exceptional quality of the rose hips that go into every Bigelow cup.
The Bottom Line on Rose Hips
Rose hips are more than just an ingredient. They are a small fruit with a big role, bringing tartness, depth, and natural vitamin C to the teas you already love. From wild-harvested plants in Chile to your teacup at home, every Bigelow tea that contains rose hips carries the care of thousands of hands, because Bigelow Tea only sources only flavorful and quality ingredients. Next time you brew a cup, take a moment to appreciate the journey in every sip.