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Alright, let’s talk about them flowers you can eat. Who knew, right? I always just looked at ’em, pretty things they are, never thought of stickin’ ’em in my mouth. But the world’s a funny place, ain’t it? People eatin’ all sorts now.
So, I heard tell there’s a whole bunch of ’em you can eat, like, over a hundred! Can you believe that? More flowers than I got chickens, and that’s sayin’ somethin’. But I ain’t gonna talk about all them, just a few I heard about, the ones folks seem to like.
First off, nasturtiums. Now them’s pretty little things, bright colors, like sunshine in your yard. And guess what? You can eat the flowers AND the leaves! Someone told me they taste kinda peppery, like them little green peppers I put in my pickles. Folks put ’em in butter, on sandwiches, even make vinegar with ’em. Fancy stuff, I tell ya.
- Nasturtiums: Peppery taste, good in butter, sandwiches, and vinegar. Eat the flowers and leaves.
Then there’s them borage flowers. Heard they pop up in the summer. Blue, star-shaped, real pretty. Now, I ain’t never tried ’em myself, but folks say they taste real good. The flowers and the stems, both edible. Imagine that! Eatin’ the stems of flowers. The world’s gone crazy, I tell ya, but in a good way, I guess.
- Borage: Summer flowers, blue and star-shaped. Both flowers and stems are edible. Good taste, so they say.
And then, the roses. Now them I know. Always had a rose bush or two by the porch. Never thought of eatin’ ’em though. Smelled nice, that’s all. But turns out, you can eat the petals. Folks put ’em in salads, desserts, even make rose water. Guess they add a little sweetness, a little fancy touch. Who am I to judge? If it tastes good, it tastes good.
- Roses: Eat the petals. Used in salads, desserts, and to make rose water. Sweet and fancy.
Another one they talk about is pansies. Them little faces, always smiling up at ya. Turns out, you can eat them smiles! People put ’em on cakes, in salads, make ’em all pretty. They don’t have a strong taste, I hear, just kinda mild and sweet. Pretty to look at and pretty to eat, I guess.
- Pansies: Mild and sweet taste. Used for decorating cakes and in salads. Pretty to look at and eat.
Then you got your sunflowers. Big ol’ happy faces, followin’ the sun all day long. Now, I always knew you could eat the seeds, roasted ’em myself plenty of times. But the petals? That’s new to me. Heard you can sprinkle ’em on salads, kinda like confetti. Don’t know what they taste like, but I reckon they ain’t gonna hurt ya.
- Sunflowers: Eat the petals and the seeds. Petals used in salads. Seeds are roasted and eaten.
And don’t forget them violets. Little purple flowers, pop up all over the place in the spring. Folks used to make violet jelly, I remember. Sweet and kinda flowery, if that makes sense. You can eat the flowers too, put ’em in salads, on cakes, make ’em all fancy.
- Violets: Sweet and flowery taste. Used to make jelly and in salads and on cakes.
Oh, and there’s dandelions too. Now them, I know. Always pullin’ ’em outta the garden, pesky things. But turns out, you can eat the greens, and the flowers too. The greens are kinda bitter, but good for ya, they say. And the flowers, well, I hear you can fry ’em up, make dandelion fritters. Imagine that! Fritters made outta weeds.
- Dandelions: Eat the greens and the flowers. Greens are bitter but healthy. Flowers can be fried.
They also say you can eat citrus blossoms. Them little white flowers on orange and lemon trees. Smell heavenly, they do. Never thought of eatin’ ’em, but apparently, you can. Probably taste a little bit like the fruit, I reckon. Sweet and tangy.
- Citrus Blossoms: Flowers from orange and lemon trees. Sweet and tangy taste.
Then there’s clover, them little white flowers you find in the fields. Cows love ’em, and turns out, people can eat ’em too. Heard they taste kinda sweet and grassy. Put ’em in salads, make tea with ’em, all sorts of things.
- Clover: Sweet and grassy taste. Used in salads and to make tea.
And daisies too! Them simple white flowers with the yellow center. Heard you can eat the petals, kinda mild and slightly bitter. Good for adding a little something to your salads.
- Daisies: Mild and slightly bitter taste. Petals are edible and good in salads.
Then there’s hibiscus, them big, showy flowers, all bright and colorful. Heard you can make tea with ’em, kinda tart and fruity. Good for you, they say, full of vitamins.
- Hibiscus: Tart and fruity taste. Used to make tea and full of vitamins.
And honeysuckle too. Sweet smellin’ flowers, always buzzing with bees. You can suck the nectar out, everyone knows that. But you can eat the flowers too, I hear. Sweet and kinda floral, just like the smell.
- Honeysuckle: Sweet and floral taste. You can suck the nectar and eat the flowers.
Then there’s lavender, that purple flower, smells so good, makes you sleepy. Heard you can eat it too, but just a little, it’s strong. Put it in desserts, make lavender lemonade. Fancy stuff, I tell ya.
- Lavender: Strong flavor. Used sparingly in desserts and drinks.
And lilacs too. Them purple flowers, smell so sweet, makes your heart happy. You can eat the flowers, heard they taste kinda floral and slightly bitter. Put ’em in salads, make lilac syrup. Folks are gettin’ real creative these days.
- Lilacs: Floral and slightly bitter taste. Used in salads and to make syrup.
And lastly, mums, them big fall flowers, all sorts of colors. Heard you can eat the petals, but they’re kinda bitter, so you gotta be careful. Put ’em in salads, make mum tea. Guess it’s all about what you like.
- Mums: Bitter taste. Use petals sparingly in salads and to make tea.
So there you have it, a whole bunch of flowers you can eat. Who woulda thunk it? The world’s a surprising place, ain’t it? Maybe I’ll try some of them myself, see what all the fuss is about. But I’m stickin’ to my fried chicken and mashed potatoes, mostly. You can’t beat the good ol’ stuff, that’s what I say.
Tags: edible flowers, nasturtiums, borage, roses, pansies, sunflowers, violets, dandelions, citrus blossoms, clover, daisies, hibiscus, honeysuckle, lavender, lilac, mums
