Alright, we’re finally at the end of our Edible Flowers series! We’re planning on putting these all together in a downloadable PDF, and I’ll be adding a few recipes to help you feel more comfortable adding flowers to your meal plans ?? Thyme, Thymus spp. Thyme flowers have a similar taste to thyme the …
Sage, Salvia officinalis Sage has proven to be a real fighter in my garden. Not only has it produced beautiful leaves and flowers year after year, but it’s also managed to spread and increase its yield. Thank you, sage! I love the flavor of sage, but it is quite powerful and a little goes a …
We’re getting near the end of our little series of edible flowers. I hope you learned something and feel more confident in using a variety of flowers in your cooking and food preparations. The next three are probably very familiar to you, (or maybe not) but all of them are delicious used in a culinary …
I’m only going to mention a couple of flowers in these letters. However, I do want to say that while I am sharing quite a few flowers in this mini series, it is by no means an exhaustive list. There are hundreds of edible flowers worldwide, and I’m simply pointing out the ones that are …
Lavender, Lavendula spp. Lavender may be one of the most commonly known edible flowers. Its aromatic properties are incredibly calming and most people enjoy the scent. Lavender is a marvelous addition to almost anything. Just remove the buds from the stem and add to your dish(es). One caveat – if you add too much, your …
Hibiscus, Hibiscus spp. There are hundreds of species of hibiscus. The flowers can be eaten straight off the plant (if you’re lucky enough to live in a tropical area or have a heated greenhouse!) or used dried in tea, relishes or jams. Hibiscus flower is quite tart, reminiscent of cranberry with a slight citrus flavor. …
Elderflower, Sambucus spp. Besides its well-known medicinal value, elderflower can be used to make jelly, wine, syrup, liqueur and tea. It has a delicately sweet flavor and the flowers make wonderful fritters! Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare The bright yellow fennel flowers have a mild anise flavor, which makes it a tasty addition to any salad, …
Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale My heart always goes out to the much-maligned dandelion. It provides early food to the bees, attracts other pollinators, repairs compact soil and provides us with food and medicine. What’s not to love…? With the advent of manicure lawns, the dandelion lost rank. It was suddenly classified a “weed” where it was …
Calendula, Calendula officinalis This easy-to-grow annual responds to frequent harvest. The more you pick, the more flowers it will produce, so plan on harvesting almost every day once they start blooming, and you’ll be gifted with blossoms until die back. I usually let a few go to seed near the end so they can self-seed. …
Bachelor’s Button, Centaura cyanus Grassy in flavor, the petals are edible. Avoid the bitter calyx (the green petal-looking parts that sit beneath the petals). Basil, Ocimum basilicum Part of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, basil blossoms come in a variety of colors, depending on the cultivar you choose. The flowers are either bright white, pale …
