Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Thank you Suzi. I started getting edible flowers about a year ago and right now haven't branched out to anything but Nasturtium. Gorgeous in salads and a real hit at potlucks/rawlucks. My hubby would love wild flowers, but I rather stick to something I can eat even though we have the room for both. carolgSuzanne <suziesgoats@...> wrote: A“quick-start” guide to eating flowers. We also have a long list of flowers you can use in salads and other edible flower recipes. Before we get into WHAT flowers to eat, lets’ cover a few rules… Ten Rules of Edible Flowers for Edible Flower Recipes 1. Eat flowers only when you are positive they are edible. 2. Just because flowers are served with food does not mean they are edible. (See rule #1) 3. Eat only the flowers that have been grown organically. 4. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers unless you know they have been grown organically (see rule #3). 5. If you have hay fever, asthma or allergies, do not eat flowers, or do so cautiously, (see rule #7 & #10). 6. Do not eat flowers picked from the side of the road. They may be contaminated from car emissions (see rule #3). 7. Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Eat only the petals. 8. Not all flowers are edible. Some are poisonous. 9. There are many varieties of any one flower. Flowers taste different when grown in different locations. 10. Introduce flowers into your diet the way you would new foods to a baby- one at a time in small quantities. This list is from Edible Flowers, From Garden to Palate, by Wilkinson Barash Here are ideas for edible flower recipes: Infused vinegars Sorbets Candies Syrups and jellies Beverages, wines, meads Fritters Flower butter Dips and spreads Garnish and color Soups Flowers for salads and edible flower recipes Arugala, Eruca vericaria Salads, snacking Nutty, spicy, peppery flavor Borage, Borago officinalis Salads, snacking Tastes like light cucumber, remove thorny backside Bachelor button, Centauria cynaus Salads Sweet to spicy, clovelike Burnet, Sanguisorba minor Salads Flavorless, but colorful Calendula, Calenudla officinalis Salads, teas Spicy, tangy, ‘poor man’s saffron’ adds golden color to foods Daylily, Hemerocallis species Salads, sautés Sweet, crunchy, somewhat like a water chestnut Lavender, Lavendula species Salads, teas Floral, strong perfumey flavor, use very lightly for color Marigold, Tagetes tenuifolia Salads, teas Spicy to bitter Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus Salads Sweet, mildly pungent to peppery flavor Onion/garlic, Allium species Salads, stir fry Sweet onion, garlic flavor Pansy, Viola spp. Salads Mild sweet to tart flavor Pea, Pisum species (sweet pea is poisonous) Salads, stir fry Tastes like peas, also add tendrils or fresh new shoots Rose, species Salads, teas, infusions Sweet, aromatic flavor; remove the white bitter portion of petals Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis Salads, teas Pinelike, sweet, savory Squah Blossom, Cucurbito pep species Salads, sautés, stuffed/battered Sweet, nectar flavor Thyme, Thymus vulgaris Salads, teas Lemony, adds a nice light scent Violet, Viola species Salads, teas Sweet, nectary flavor That's quite a comprehensive chart for planning your edible flower recipes. Suzi What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. health/ http://suziesgoats.wholefoodfarmacy.com/ http://360./suziesgoats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 >A client of mine brought in a salad for me that had flowers in it. It was >a very pretty salad and I didn't know what to do other than say " Thank >You. " I have heard people eat flowers before but never saw them actually >eat them. So she looked at me, and said, " What are you waiting for >enjoy. " The entire time I'm thinking...you first. As if she read my >mind, she did eat her's first. I never ate flowers before and the taste >and testure takes some getting use to. I have to say it wasn't bad. >Now I'm wondering about how toxic it can be if done on a regular basis. >I can't say it helped with my headache, but it wasn't bad eithier. I >went to different websites pertaining to edible flowers and they were >expensive. So I was wondering... Does anyone grow their own flowers that >has proven to be nontoxic for them when consumed? If you do grow them, >how often do you eat these flowers and how are they prepared? > > Debra I am working on growing a few plants that have edible flowers. I learned about them while on an herbal hike in the mountains. Scarlet globemallow - great for sore throats, and it grows wild on the ditchbanks here. I have picked and eaten them while walking my dogs. Ditto - wild evening primrose. Grows on the ditchbanks (right down towards the water in the ditches!) - looks lovely, tastes yummy. Nice touch on a salad. When the DH and I were at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm a couple years ago, many of the meals were served with edible flowers. I ate them. (But I did take a moment to enjoy the sight of them on the plate first)! They looked like tiny pansies, but I can't swear to what they were. They weren't prepared - simply picked and placed on the plate or food. (Although I would imagine they were washed). Ev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Thanks Ev. The flowers that I ate were orchids and something that looked like a miniture lily that was orange in color and others that were white. She didn't have a name for it, but said she eats them all of the time. They were chilled for a few hours after she washed them to enhance the flavor and to make sure they were bug free.. They were almost to pretty to eat, didn't taste bad at all. Evening Primrose I do have in my yard, but I thought that they were toxic if eaten to much, now I must look that up. I take it that you havn't had any adverse effects? I will look up Scarlet globemallow too. Debra From: <autumn3scorpio@...>health Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:30:42 PMSubject: Re: Edible Flowers Does anyone grow edible flowers which has proven to be nontoxic for them when consumed? If you do grow them, how often do you eat these flowers and how are they prepared?>> DebraI am working on growing a few plants that have edible flowers. I learned about them while on an herbal hike in the mountains.Scarlet globemallow - great for sore throats, and it grows wild on the ditchbanks here. I have picked and eaten them while walking my dogs.Ditto - wild evening primrose. Grows on the ditchbanks (right down towards the water in the ditches!) - looks lovely, tastes yummy. Nice touch on a salad.When the DH and I were at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm a couple years ago, many of the meals were served with edible flowers. I ate them. (But I did take a moment to enjoy the sight of them on the plate first)! They looked like tiny pansies, but I can't swear to what they were.They weren't prepared - simply picked and placed on the plate or food. (Although I would imagine they were washed).Ev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Oooh, pretty!No, no adverse effects, but then, I wasn't eating huge quantities. I mean, too much chocolate and I'd have adverse effects, you know? (Although, that might take quite a bit, for me. I'm quite habituated in that area...)!! My understanding is there are many edible flowers, but they are essentially served as a decoration, except like dandelions, which you could probably have a whole serving - at least of the greens. <shrug> My best guess is this - if it were going to disagree with you, you'd know by now. If you have concerns, just continue your research. Bon appetit! Ev "A hundred million miracles are happening every day!" Thanks Ev. The flowers that I ate were orchids and something that looked like a miniture lily that was orange in color and others that were white. She didn't have a name for it, but said she eats them all of the time. They were chilled for a few hours after she washed them to enhance the flavor and to make sure they were bug free.. They were almost to pretty to eat, didn't taste bad at all. Evening Primrose I do have in my yard, but I thought that they were toxic if eaten to much, now I must look that up. I take it that you havn't had any adverse effects? I will look up Scarlet globemallow too. Debra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 that's interestg..i heard about eatg flowers once upon a long time ago... I kno that one of the chinese teas uses crysanthimum (sp?) ..perty tasty! another (or is it the same?) is honey suckle (those flower too right?).. I know they can be taken as a tea...id imagine they can be done fresh too. anyway..interestg experience... whyd u have a headache? wasn't from food was it? (if I may ask)... kelvin via cell On 4/30/09, Rainbow Spirit <rainbowspirit333@...> wrote: > Thanks Ev. The flowers that I ate were orchids and something that looked > like a miniture lily that was orange in color and others that were > white. She didn't have a name for it, but said she eats them all of the > time.. They were chilled for a few hours after she washed them to enhance > the flavor and to make sure they were bug free. They were almost to pretty > to eat, didn't taste bad at all. Evening Primrose I do have in my yard, but > I thought that they were toxic if eaten to much, now I must look that up. I > take it that you havn't had any adverse effects? I will look up Scarlet > globemallow too. > > Debra > > > ________________________________ > From: <autumn3scorpio@...> > health > Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:30:42 PM > Subject: Re: Edible Flowers > > > > > > > Does anyone grow edible flowers which has proven to be nontoxic for them > when consumed? If you do grow them, how often do you eat these flowers and > how are they prepared? >> >> Debra > > I am working on growing a few plants that have edible flowers. I learned > about them while on an herbal hike in the mountains. > > Scarlet globemallow - great for sore throats, and it grows wild on the > ditchbanks here. I have picked and eaten them while walking my dogs.. > Ditto - wild evening primrose. Grows on the ditchbanks (right down towards > the water in the ditches!) - looks lovely, tastes yummy. Nice touch on a > salad. > > When the DH and I were at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm a couple years > ago, many of the meals were served with edible flowers. I ate them. (But I > did take a moment to enjoy the sight of them on the plate first)! They > looked like tiny pansies, but I can't swear to what they were. > > They weren't prepared - simply picked and placed on the plate or food. > (Although I would imagine they were washed). > > Ev > > > > > > -- Kelvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 I have crysanthimums in the flower bed that my wild bunny eats and the squirrels. The cape honeysuckle is growning really tall and is for the butterflies and hummingbirds. That plant is more tubular and orange in color. I like to watch the wildlife go in there and feed. One year I had bumble bees in there, oh they made me laugh and I got a lot of exercise running from them. LOL Since my last illness I've become afraid of eating new things, but now I'm willing to try new stuff after I do the research. Never really thought about putting them in a tea. I mean I could do it, just a little reluctant, cause I worry about toxic build up. The headaches are from allergies this time of year that just put me in a sour mood.. I've been run down this last week between work, and family. The other day I had the worst migraine and was in tears it hurt so bad and everything was hazey. I just was non-fuctioning and so dizzy. Then hubby forced me to eat some green beans and a baked potato which was hard to get down because I was nauseous took me close to an hour. Actually the fresh orange juice helped with my vision. He had the car ready to go to the hospital but I became better and more like myself, the head pain was more tolerable. So in answer to your question it might be allergies or not eating enough food, dunno. I probably should take vitamins, but they all look the same, and I question the manufacturing process. We get so much from China and their quality control is not the best. Well...That was probably more than you wanted to know. Debra From: Kelvin <kelvin.internet@...>health Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:22:52 PMSubject: Re: Edible Flowers that's interestg..i heard about eatg flowers once upon a long time ago...I kno that one of the chinese teas uses crysanthimum (sp?) ..pertytasty! another (or is it the same?) is honey suckle (those flower tooright?)..I know they can be taken as a tea...id imagine they can be done freshtoo. anyway..interestg experience.. . whyd u have a headache? wasn'tfrom food was it? (if I may ask)...kelvinvia cellOn 4/30/09, Rainbow Spirit <rainbowspirit333> wrote:> Thanks Ev. The flowers that I ate were orchids and something that looked> like a miniture lily that was orange in color and others that were> white. She didn't have a name for it, but said she eats them all of the> time.. They were chilled for a few hours after she washed them to enhance> the flavor and to make sure they were bug free. They were almost to pretty> to eat, didn't taste bad at all. Evening Primrose I do have in my yard, but> I thought that they were toxic if eaten to much, now I must look that up. I> take it that you havn't had any adverse effects? I will look up Scarlet> globemallow too.>> Debra Recent Activity 3 New MembersVisit Your Group Sitebuilder Build a web site quickly & easily with Sitebuilder.. Mom Power Kids, family & home Join the discussion Weight Loss Group on Get support and make friends online. .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 somewhere in the message archives is a post on edible flowers... Do a search. Suzi List Owner health/ http://360./suziesgoats What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. From: Kelvin <kelvin.internet@...>Subject: Re: Edible Flowershealth Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 7:22 PM that's interestg..i heard about eatg flowers once upon a long time ago...I kno that one of the chinese teas uses crysanthimum (sp?) ..pertytasty! another (or is it the same?) is honey suckle (those flower tooright?)..I know they can be taken as a tea...id imagine they can be done freshtoo. anyway..interestg experience... whyd u have a headache? wasn'tfrom food was it? (if I may ask)...kelvinvia cell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Yellow begonias taste like lemon water. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.