[HelenK]

Hi All.

I have just harvested about 6lbs of rosa rugosa rose hips which were perfectly ripe and want to start getting ahead with my jelly making for Christmas. I have access to millions of crab apples but also elderberries, rowan berries, haws and of course blackberries. I'd like to make a mixed hedgerow jelly but I'm not sure what proportions to do as I'm unsure about the taste of the rowan berries and how they will affect the jelly? If anyone has any opnions they could share?! My only thought has been to not use too many elderberries as they are so fragrant.   

[sunshineband]

I've made rowan berry jelly before and it is quite fragrant, but a bit sharp _-may be I didn't use enough sugar 

I make a hedgerow jam or jelly most years, and always maje sure that I ahve half crab or cooking apples and half other berries mixed together.... elderberries, hips, sloes, rowan or blackberries, depending on what's available.

Sloes are very sharp though, so go easy on them 
Hope this helps
 

[Spana]

..... and be careful when using rose hips as the are full of tiny weeny hairs .  It sounds a very nice mixture

[HelenK]

Thanks both for your help. I have made both Rose Hip and Crab Apple Jelly and also Rose Hip syrup so am used to the blo*dy little hairs!

Thanks for letting me know about the bitterness of the sloes, I was aware of this but will make sure I don't use too many.

I have heard that rowan berries impart a very nice colour to jellies so hopefully will turn out nice. I'll let you know!

[scabs]

I have found a whole load of rowan berries, hawes, rosehips and guelder berries in the freezer that I picked towards the end of last year.

Will they still br usable... seems a horrible waste.

[sunshineband]

Thaw out something and smell it. They might have lost a bit of taste, but as long as they don't have that 'old freezery odour'  they will be fine. And as long as they are not totally encrusted in ice -- that wouldn't bode too well TBH

I have used two year old frozen black berries before for jam and they were fine.

[scabs]

Will do, thanks!