{"id":4586,"date":"2022-07-27T16:57:39","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T21:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/?p=4586"},"modified":"2022-08-03T11:53:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T16:53:20","slug":"edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate","title":{"rendered":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Flowers aren\u2019t just for pots and vases, but plates too! Curious chefs and home cooks have extended familiar menus to incorporate newer flavors like rose and lavender. And the floral food trend doesn\u2019t stop at tasty tea and pastries. You can add many flowers from your garden to your plate not just as a colorful decoration, but as a key ingredient full of flavor and nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how to prepare edible flowers to spruce up foods and drinks, then discover edible flower options and their potential health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prepare Edible Flowers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flowers taste best plucked straight from the yard. Pick freshly bloomed blossoms in clean, pesticide-free areas away from roads and animals. Soak the blooms in water and gently shake to rinse. Remove everything except the petals, as other flower parts are usually either bitter or inedible sans a few exceptions. It\u2019s best to eat flowers<\/a> as soon as possible, although you may store them in the fridge in a container for a couple of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in purchasing edible flowers, buy them from the organic section of a grocery store, as flower shops and greenhouses often treat their supplies with pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edible Flowers to Expand Your Palate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we dive into some floral food options, note that not all flowers are edible. Before yanking a random flower out of the dirt for your dinner, always conduct your research. Some species are toxic, and even edible flowers may have been exposed to pesticides. Meanwhile, even if a flower is edible and organic, you may be allergic to it, so stay in the lane of caution before digging in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, these flowers are usually safe to start with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pansies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pansies come in different colors, and consequently, offer different nutritional content. A 2019 study<\/a> reported that white and yellow had the highest protein content, while red had the highest carbohydrate content. Pansies also contain compounds with antioxidant<\/a> and anti-inflammatory properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a pansy\u2019s mild flavor makes it a nice introduction to the delicious world of flowers. You can also munch on the entire flower instead of just the petals. Use pansies as an eye-catching garnish, or sprinkle them in a fresh, crunchy salad for a colorful health kick. If you\u2019re in the mood for some sweets, you can even crystallize them to decorate a dessert!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nasturtiums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nasturtiums\u2019 versatility makes them a popular addition to meals. Rich in vitamin C<\/a>, nasturtium petals and leaves may strengthen the immune system and help you fight bacterial and fungal infections. They\u2019re also a great source<\/a> of iron, manganese, flavonoids, and beta carotene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their sunset-colored petals, reminiscent of the summer season when they bloom, can spice up a salad in terms of both visuals and taste. Behind an initial subtle sweetness, you\u2019ll detect a peppery zest. The seeds make an excellent garnish with parsley. Mix the flowers with cream cheese or butter, tuck them in a sandwich, or add them to vinegar for a colorful, flavorful salad dressing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Edible<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Roses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Roses are as delicious as they are beloved. However, not many people know about their health benefits beyond a pleasing scent and beautiful look. Rose hips<\/a> \u2014 located below the petals where the seeds are stored \u2014 are an excellent natural source of vitamin C, and people use them for relief from osteoarthritis and pain after surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find a variety of roses, which means they don\u2019t all taste the same. As a general tip, try to choose one that smells pleasant as an indicator of taste. The petals taste slightly sweet. After removing the bitter white petal base, you can consume them raw with salads, dried with granola or mixed herbs, infused in beverages and jams, or crystallized for dessert decoration. However, be aware that processing and drying the petals degrades the vitamin C<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunflowers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Known for their nutritious seeds \u2014 often salted, roasted, or glazed in honey \u2014 sunflowers\u2019 petals and buds are also edible. One cup of seeds<\/a> contains about 29 grams<\/a> of protein, a large volume of essential amino acids, and various minerals. They can help lower cholesterol<\/a>; supply vitamin E; promote brain, hair, and skin health; and much more. Crunch on the seeds whole, dry the petals for tea or scatter them across salads for a mild nutty flavor, and blanch the buds to toss in garlic butter for an artichoke-like flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hibiscuses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hibiscuses have large, colorful blossoms that are usually red, yellow, pink, white, or multicolored. On top of decorative purposes, people use them for culinary flourishes. Although more research must be done to understand the full scope of the plant\u2019s health benefits, some studies suggest hibiscus tea<\/a> helps lower blood pressure<\/a>, combat bacteria<\/a>, and improve liver health<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have a sour, tart flavor and you can consume them fresh or dried, hot or cold. The tartness and sourness levels<\/a> can be gauged by their color, as lighter hibiscuses are more tart and sour, while darker hibiscuses are fuller and richer. Enjoy hibiscus petals in tea, jam, sugar, or relish \u2014 or as lively additions to a refreshing fruit salad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lilacs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lilacs symbolize spring and renewal. They can also fill your plate with a delicate purple or white touch and a floral, slightly bitter taste that matches their aroma. Their petals contain lutein<\/a>, which may help improve eye health, prevent macular degeneration, and decrease your risk of developing cataracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can infuse lilacs to create lilac sugar, syrup, and honey, or use them as a floral ice cream base and garnish for other sweets like cake and pudding. In the mood for a bit more experimentation? Mix fresh lilac in cream cheese or yogurt for a lemony punch that\u2019s as pleasantly surprising as the start of a new season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Edible flowers are a sight to behold and a taste to remember. Mix and match them in your foods and drinks for a new, delicious experience that appeals to multiple senses \u2014 and also benefits your health!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Flowers aren\u2019t just for pots and vases, but plates too! Curious chefs and home cooks have extended familiar menus to incorporate newer flavors like rose and lavender. And the floral food trend doesn\u2019t stop at tasty tea and pastries. You can add many flowers from your garden to your plate not just as a colorful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4587,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nEdible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate - Health Perch<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eating a pansy may seem odd, but many flowers from your garden can be delicious, beautiful additions to meals. Plus, they offer health benefits. Read this article to learn more.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Health Perch\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthperch\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthperch\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-07-27T21:57:39+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-08-03T16:53:20+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"627\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Health Perch\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/HealthPerch\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@healthperch\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Health Perch\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate\",\"name\":\"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate - Health Perch\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-07-27T21:57:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-03T16:53:20+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#\/schema\/person\/0974c18b0f65fc61f3bf1ec6fa32070e\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":627,\"caption\":\"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/\",\"name\":\"Health Perch\",\"description\":\"A Digital Health Magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#\/schema\/person\/0974c18b0f65fc61f3bf1ec6fa32070e\",\"name\":\"Health Perch\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/383779a12faad28634faae921bf78374?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/383779a12faad28634faae921bf78374?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Health Perch\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.healthperch.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthperch\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/HealthPerch\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/author\/healthperch\"}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate - Health Perch","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate","og_description":"Eating a pansy may seem odd, but many flowers from your garden can be delicious, beautiful additions to meals. Plus, they offer health benefits. Read this article to learn more.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate","og_site_name":"Health Perch","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthperch","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthperch","article_published_time":"2022-07-27T21:57:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-08-03T16:53:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":627,"url":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Health Perch","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate","twitter_description":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/HealthPerch","twitter_site":"@healthperch","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Health Perch","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate","url":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate","name":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate - Health Perch","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg","datePublished":"2022-07-27T21:57:39+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-03T16:53:20+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#\/schema\/person\/0974c18b0f65fc61f3bf1ec6fa32070e"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate-open-graph.jpg","width":1200,"height":627,"caption":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/edible-flowers-brighten-your-plate-and-expand-your-palate#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Edible Flowers Brighten Your Plate and Expand Your Palate"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/","name":"Health Perch","description":"A Digital Health Magazine","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#\/schema\/person\/0974c18b0f65fc61f3bf1ec6fa32070e","name":"Health Perch","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/383779a12faad28634faae921bf78374?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/383779a12faad28634faae921bf78374?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Health Perch"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.healthperch.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthperch","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/HealthPerch"],"url":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/author\/healthperch"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4586"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4586"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4597,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4586\/revisions\/4597"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}