Illustrations by Rebekah Nolan, Flatland Kitchen
“Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul.”
—The Koran
ROSE
Taste: strawberries, green apples, sweet
Edible: petals
Food use: syrups, jellies, desserts, butter
Cook’s note: remove the white portion of petals
CLOVER
Taste: sweet, tastes like anise or licorice
Edible: whole clover flower
Food use: salads and tea
Cook’s note: some believe it can help gout and rheumatism
HIBISCUS
Taste: tart citrus
Edible: petals
Food use: pickle, tea, garnish in wine, salad
CHRYSANTHEMUM
Taste: slightly bitter, tangy
Edible: petals—remove the flower base
Food use: flavor vinegar, use in salads, stir-fries
Cook’s note: blanch petals if using in salads
DANDELION
Taste: sweet, honey
Edible: buds and flower heads
Food use: wine, honey, salads, rice, tea
Cook’s note: can be eaten raw or steamed
DAYLILY
Taste: sweet with a vegetable taste
Edible: petals, blossoms
Food use: stuff as you would squash blossoms, salad
Cook’s note: natural laxative, eat in moderation!
LILAC
Taste: fragrant, lemon flavor
Edible: flowers
Food use: flavor water, salads, flavor sugar, desserts
Cook’s note: steep in water to make a natural fragrant spray
MARIGOLD
Taste: tangy to peppery, resembles saffron
Edible: petals
Food use: soups, pasta, rice, salads, butters, may be used for natural food dye
TUBEROUS BEGONIA
Taste: citrus-sour
Edible: stems, leaves, flowers
Food use: petals in salads, stems as garnish
Cook’s note: substitute for rhubarb
VIOLET
Taste: sweet, fragrant
Edible: flowers, leaves
Food use: desserts, drinks, salads
Cook’s note: cook leaves like spinach
PANSY
Taste: sweet grassy flavor, wintergreen overtone
Edible: petals, stems, leaves
Food use: sweet salads, desserts, soups, water, tea
GARDEN SORREL
Taste: tart, lemon flavor
Edible: flowers, leaves
Food use: salads, sauces, soups, pasta, pizza
Cook’s note: Sorrel contains large amounts of oxalic acid, which people with low kidney function need to avoid
Tip: Make ice cubes containing any of these edible flowers to doll up any ordinary drink