Edible Flowers
A Feast for the Eyes and the Palate
Flowers are not only beautiful to look at, but also delicious to eat. Many flowers have edible parts that can add flavor, color, and nutrition to your dishes. Whether you grow them in your garden or buy them from a store, edible flowers can brighten up your meals and impress your guests. In this essay, you will learn about some of the most popular edible flowers, their benefits, and how to use them in your recipes.
What Are Edible Flowers?
Edible flowers are flowers that can be safely consumed by humans. They may be eaten as vegetables, herbs, spices, or garnishes. Some flowers are edible in their entirety, while others have only certain parts that can be eaten, such as the petals, stamens, or pistils. Some flowers are eaten raw, while others are cooked, dried, or preserved.
Edible flowers have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for centuries, in various cultures and cuisines. According to some sources, the first recorded use of edible flowers dates back to 140 B.C.E., when the Chinese used chrysanthemums as a salad ingredient1. Since then, many other flowers have been discovered and enjoyed for their taste and health benefits.
Why Eat Edible Flowers?
Edible flowers are not only a novelty, but also a valuable source of nutrients and antioxidants. Many edible flowers are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that can help protect against oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases. For example, hibiscus flowers are high in vitamin C and anthocyanins, which can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Dandelion flowers are high in fiber and iron, which can support digestion and blood health. Calendula flowers are high in flavonoids and carotenoids, which can boost immunity and skin health.
Edible flowers can also enhance the flavor and appearance of your dishes. They can add sweetness, spiciness, bitterness, or sourness to your salads, soups, sauces, drinks, desserts, and more. They can also create a visual appeal with their vibrant colors and shapes. Edible flowers can make your meals more fun and festive, especially for special occasions.
How to Choose and Use Edible Flowers?
Before you start eating flowers, you need to make sure that they are safe and suitable for consumption. Here are some tips to help you choose and use edible flowers:
Identify the flowers correctly. Not all flowers are edible, and some can be poisonous or cause allergic reactions. Use a reliable guide or consult an expert to confirm the identity and edibility of the flowers you want to eat. Avoid flowers that you are not sure about, or that have a bitter or unpleasant taste or smell.
Choose organic or pesticide-free flowers. Many flowers are treated with chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Choose flowers that are grown organically or without pesticides, or wash them thoroughly before eating. You can also grow your own flowers in your garden or pots, using natural methods and fertilizers.
Harvest the flowers at the right time. The best time to harvest flowers is in the morning, when they are fresh and have the most flavor and aroma. Avoid flowers that are wilted, damaged, or diseased. Cut the flowers close to the base, leaving some stem attached. Store them in a cool and dry place, or refrigerate them in a sealed container or a plastic bag with a damp paper towel.
Prepare the flowers properly. Before eating the flowers, remove any dirt, insects, or unwanted parts, such as the sepals, pistils, or stamens. Some flowers can be eaten whole, while others need to be separated into petals or segments. You can also chop, mince, or blend the flowers to use them as ingredients. Use the flowers as soon as possible, or preserve them by drying, freezing, pickling, or candying them.
Experiment with different recipes. There are many ways to use edible flowers in your cooking and baking. You can add them to salads, sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, quiches, omelets, soups, stews, curries, stir-fries, rice dishes, pasta dishes, and more. You can also use them to make teas, lemonades, cocktails, syrups, vinegars, oils, butters, jams, jellies, sauces, dips, dressings, and more. You can also use them to decorate cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, puddings, ice creams, and more.
Some Examples of Edible Flowers
There are hundreds of edible flowers that you can try, but here are some of the most common and popular ones, along with their descriptions and uses:
Nasturtiums: These flowers have a peppery taste and come in various colors, such as yellow, orange, red, and pink. They are great for salads, sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, and cheese platters. You can also use the leaves and the seeds, which can be pickled as a caper substitute.
Pansies: These flowers have a mild and slightly sweet taste and come in many shades of purple, blue, yellow, white, and pink. They are perfect for salads, desserts, drinks, and cake decorations. You can also crystallize them with sugar for a sweet treat.
Violas: These flowers are similar to pansies, but smaller and more delicate. They have a mild and slightly sweet taste and come in various colors, such as purple, blue, yellow, white, and pink. They are ideal for salads, desserts, drinks, and cake decorations. You can also crystallize them with sugar for a sweet treat.
Borage: These flowers have a cucumber-like taste and are bright blue in color. They are wonderful for drinks, especially lemonades and cocktails. You can also use them in salads, soups, sauces, and cheese dishes. You can also freeze them in ice cubes for a cool effect.
Calendula: These flowers have a peppery and tangy taste and are yellow or orange in color. They are excellent for salads, soups, stews, rice dishes, pasta dishes, and cheese dishes. You can also use them to make teas, vinegars, oils, butters, and creams.
Lavender: These flowers have a floral and slightly bitter taste and are purple in color. They are best for desserts, drinks, and baked goods, such as cakes, cookies, muffins, scones, and breads. You can also use them to make teas, syrups, jams, jellies, and honey.
Roses: These flowers have a sweet and fragrant taste and come in many colors, such as red, pink, white, yellow, and orange. They are lovely for desserts, drinks, and cake decorations. You can also use them to make teas, syrups, jams, jellies, and rose water.
Hibiscus: These flowers have a tart and cranberry-like taste and are red, pink, or white in color. They are superb for teas, lemonades, cocktails, and sorbets. You can also use them to make syrups, jams, jellies, and sauces.
Dandelions: These flowers have a slightly bitter and honey-like taste and are yellow in color. They are good for salads, sandwiches, soups, stews, and stir-fries. You can also use them to make teas, wines, vinegars, oils, and butters. You can also eat the leaves and the roots of the plant.
Sunflowers: These flowers have a nutty and bittersweet taste and are yellow in color. They are suitable for salads, soups, stews, and breads. You can also use them to make teas, oils, and sunflower seed butter. You can also eat the seeds and the sprouts of the plant.
Conclusion
Edible flowers are a wonderful way to add beauty, flavor, and nutrition to your diet. They can make your meals more fun and creative, as well as healthier and more natural. You can grow your own edible flowers in your garden or pots, or buy them from a store or a farmer’s market. Just make sure that you identify them correctly, choose them carefully, and prepare them properly. Then, you can enjoy them in a variety of dishes and recipes, from salads and soups to desserts and drinks. Edible flowers are a feast for the eyes and the palate, and a gift from nature that you should not miss.
By Betsey Sorrell
