Experience The Flavors of Spring with Fresh Edible Flowers
On warm spring days growing up, I would often pause beneath our large honeysuckle bush, admiring the gentle hum of bees and glimmer of hummingbirds sipping from flowers overhead. Watching them, I was always tempted to have a taste, to experience the flavor of spring around me. I would surreptitiously pluck the flowers, sampling the base of the blossoms until I found just the right one, the flower that would yield the first morsel of sweet nectar.
I am certainly not alone in my temptation to taste bright spring blooms, as edible flowers are becoming valuable culinary ingredients in both five-star restaurants and home kitchens alike. It seems like edible flowers are just beginning their recent rise in popularity, but in fact flowers have long been an important part of the human diet across many cultures. From ancient Greece to Asia, flower consumption has been recorded for thousands of years. This long and rich history is evidence of the culinary and dietary values of edible flowers, and current research is revealing more about the perks of taking a few bites from your flower garden.
Benefits of Edible Flowers
Flowers are a fantastic way to jazz up your favorite foods, and research has found that incorporating flowers in your diet may have many potential health benefits. Petals, in particular, are rich in a wide array of important compounds, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The primary minerals present include phosphorous, calcium, and particularly high levels of potassium, which may help defend against cardiovascular disease. The antioxidants present in flowers are important for regulating damaging oxidative byproducts in the body, which may aid in the prevention of diseases such as cancer. The purported medicinal values of edible flowers even include anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.
Our Favorite Edible Flowers and Their Uses
Not only are edible flowers beneficial for your health, but they are also fun, flavorful, and beautiful to eat. To get you started on your floriferous flavor journey, we have compiled a list of some of our favorite edible flowers and their culinary uses.
Violas
Violas are arguably the trendiest culinary flower on the market, and their uses are practically endless. They are the perfect final touch to a fresh salad, a carefully curated dinner, or even atop your favorite dessert. These flowers come in almost every color combination imaginable, from dark purple splashed with yellow to mixed pastel blues. They will add the perfect artistic flare to any dish.
Lavender
One of my favorite things to make in the summer is lavender lemonade. Simply snip a large handful of flowers off your lavender plant, rinse, and add to a large pot of boiling water and sugar. This will make a delightful simple syrup that you can mix with freshly squeezed lemons or limes. Lavender flowers can also be used for a creative twist in cocktails, coffee, and tea.
Chives
Chive leaves are a culinary staple, but we often forget to utilize the flower. Chive blooms can add a light, oniony flavor to any savory dish, such as eggs or potato salad. Not only will they round out the flavor of your meal, but these whimsical purple flowers will certainly add a touch of flare to the presentation.
Zucchini Blossoms
Zucchini flowers have a mild flavor and succulent texture that is very well suited to lightly frying. Additionally, if your squash plant’s fruit production gets to be excessively bountiful in the summertime, utilizing the flowers is a great way to use new parts of the plant inventively, while also pacing fruit production.
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums are one of the tastiest plants on this list, with uniquely flavored flowers and leaves that are described as both sweet, peppery, and even spicy. They are a great choice to add an extra special kick to salads, pesto, or caprese. Additionally, nasturtiums are very easy to grow in Southern California, and will surely yield an impressive bounty of flowers.
Experience the flavor of spring by growing your own fresh edible flowers. If we have left you hungry for more, visit Roger’s Gardens today to shop our current selection.
Caution: Be sure to properly identify plants when harvesting, or seek the help of an experienced horticulturist. A misidentified flower may contain irritating or toxic compounds. Additionally, avoid harvesting flowers from areas that may have been treated with pesticides, especially if foraging from a location outside of your own home garden.