from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com
Églantine Vandoeuvrine
Photograph courtesy of alainalele
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alainalele/ FF
Églantine, Cynorhodon or Gratte-cul - The rose hip.
Sirop d'Églantine - Rose hip syrup is very much a French passion. The syrup will be on the menu when used in sauces or when made into a jam. Rose hip syrup not only tastes nice but it is good for you, it is rich in vitamin C.
Sweet Briar Rosa Rubiginosa
Photograph courtesy of Hornbeam Arts
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hornbeam/
The rose hip is part of the rose shrub and the hips come in different shades of orange, red and purple. The hip holds the rose's fruit that are left after the flower has died.
Rose hip syrup on French menus:
Confiture d’Églantine – A rose hip preserve or jam. This may be on your breakfast menu.
Faisselle à la Confiture d'Églantine Maison - A soft fresh cheese, mostly made with cow’s milk though other milk may be used here served with a rose hip jam.
Suprême de Pintade, son Foie Gras et Sirop d'Eglantine. – Breast of Guinea fowl served with fattened duck's liver and rose hip syrup.
Tisane Églantine - Rose hip tea.– An infusion, a tea made with the rose hip syrup.
Eglantine
Thé Églantine Rosa Canina - Rose Hip tea/infusion from the Dog Rose.
Eau de Vie d'Églantine - A rose hip liquor; considered a digestif and 40% proof. You knew that rose hip syrup was good for you, but did you know it was this good?
The origin of the rose.
All roses originated in Asia and today the dog rose, especially, grows wild all over Europe. It is a climbing rose with large hips that are easily collected. However, from talking with a chef who makes his own rose hip syrup he said that if you are not looking for large quantities, the smaller rose hips in your garden from cultivated roses are enough for most family needs.
The dog rose
Gratte-cul?
Some readers may wonder, like I did, at the translation of one of the dog rose’s French names, gratte-cul. This is vulgar French slang and I was informed that it refers to something you may use to scratch your rear-end with! The source who gave me this translation did not know the reason or the reasons for its use; he only admitted to being rather bemused himself. He just said “En France nous avons beaucoup de mots populaires et vulgaires.” That translates as ‘in France, we have many popular and vulgar words.” Well, we have plenty in English, but they do not deal with rose-hips being used to scratch your rear-end.
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