This is a preview of the content in our French Food Decoder app. Get the app to:
  • Read offline
  • Remove ads
  • Access all content
  • Use the in-app Map to find sites, and add custom locations (your hotel...)
  • Build a list of your own favourites
  • Search the contents with full-text search functionality
  • ... and more!
iOS App Store Google Play

gratte-cul

rose hips

Faux-fruits du rosier (Cynorhodon), Landes, France

Gratte-cul (‘ass scratcher’) is the common name for rose hips, the ‘false fruit’ of the eglantine because of its ‘hairs’ are used as itching powder (these hairs need to be removed before eating—although herbalists mix them with honey as a cure from round worms).

In polite company, rose hips are called cynorhodon (or cynorrhodon) from the Greek kynorhodon, or ‘dog rose’, dating from the time when the root of wild rose was believed to cure for rabies. It isn’t, but rose hips themselves have plenty of antioxidants and and are good for skin conditions.

Confiture de gratte-cul (cynorhodon)

The Aveyron is the département of confiture de gratte-cul (rose hip jam), where it’s also called confiture de quina.

Une bouteille d'eau-de-vie d'églantine (ou cynorhodon, ou gratte-cul) de la distillerie Émile Coulin à Fougerolles (Haute-Saône)

It’s also made into an eau-de-vie in Fougerolles in the Haute-Saône.

Fruit and nuts

Text © Dana Facaros

Images by Chris93, Faniensis, JJ Georges