The Edible Spring Flower, Which Violets Variety are Edible?

If you are growing violets in your place, you may be wondering what other functions they have aside from being used as decoration. Are they edible? If the answer to the question is yes, which violet varieties are edible?

In fact, violets are indeed edible. According to Rachel Lambert, most violets and pansies are edible. The list includes the violet, purple, blue, white ones, and the multi-colored ones. However, it is better for the yellow varieties to not be consumed as they can cause stomach upsets.

What about African violets? Are they edible? As for African violets, they are not considered as violets as they are part of a different plant family and they are not edible.

If you are wondering about the best violets to eat, the answer is the European sweet violet variety of Viola odorata. This one is known to be the most satisfying to eat. Besides, it is also the most perfumed of the violets and the most satisfying to infuse for flavoring and color.

Which parts of violets are edible? Violets have been used as both food and medicine since hundreds of years ago. It is also possible that they have been used since the beginning of time. Almost every part of the plants can be eaten and used as medicine, including the flowers, the leaves, and the stems. If you are wondering about the rhizomes or roots, they can also be used. However, please be careful and only use small amounts.

As you already know that most violets are edible, you may want to know how to use them in food. So, how to use these violets in food? Check out the information below if you are curious.

In fact, violets have been used in candy, cakes, cream, syrup, tea and salads. When cooked, these flowers become sticky, which is perfect as a natural thickener for soups and stews. However, using it for a side vegetable is not recommended.

Even though they have a strong scent, sweet violets are a perfect option to be used in food. If you are interested in using violets in food, below are some recipes to try:

Recipe 1: Sweet Violet Syrup

The syrup made from violet has a pretty violet color. This syrup can be used in cocktails and dilute for drinks. It is better for you to match it with subtle flavors so that the taste of the syrup does not lose. It is stated that the color of the final syrup will be lighter compared to the original violet infused water. However, it will still be as stunning as ever.

The ingredients of this recipe include:

• Fresh sweet violet flowers
• Boiling water
• Golden caster sugar

If you are interested in making Sweet Violet Syrup, here is step by step to follow:

1. Firstly, clean the flowers and place in a heat proof bowl or mug. If the flowers are a lot, using a deep vessel is recommended.
2. Next, pour over enough boiled water to cover the flowers.
3. Please cover and leave it for 24 hours.
4. On the next day, you have to strain off the liquid. Do it every last drop and measure it.
5. Afterward, add a gram of sugar to every milliliter of liquid. If you use cups, you can match the cup size to make the amount of liquid and sugar the same.
6. The next thing that you need to add is the liquid and the sugar. Do it into a suitable sized saucepan.
7. When in the saucepan, stir it in a medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
8. In the next step, store in a sterilized bottle. Aside from that, you can also freeze it in an ice cube tray.
9. Then, add a squeeze of lemon to help preserve the syrup further and to add a lemony twist and to make tit pinkish

Recipe 2: Iced Sweet Violet Biscuits

The purple color on top of the biscuits looks pretty. These biscuits would be prettier with the violet itching. If you are a vegan, you would love to make this recipe. Here is the list of the ingredients for 15 biscuits:

• 125 g (1 cup) flour)
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 50 g of golden caster sugar
• 50 ml (3 tablespoons) oil
• 1 tablespoon violet water or vodka
• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon water

As for the itching, the ingredients include:

• 50 g and 1 tablespoon (1/2 cup) powdered violet sugar
• 2 teaspoons water

After collecting all the required ingredients, it is time for you to execute it by following the following guide:

1. First of all, you should preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit, 180C/fan 160C and lightly oil a large baking tray.
2. Then, sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Make sure to make in the sugar and then add the wet ingredients and blend well.
3. Try your best to break off golf ball sizes, roll into balls and slightly flatten on the tray.
4. After that, bake for 20 minutes and then leave for 10 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack to cool everything completely.
5. As you wait, blend the powdered violet sugar in a small bowl with the water.
6. Then, use two separate bowls if you use both sugars.
7. In the next step, spoon on and leave to dry.
8. If you see that the slow violet sugar looks a little grey, stay calm and it will like this at first but will start to shine through as the flowers rehydrate.
9. Make sure to leave the itching to dry before storing and eating it within a week.

If the recipes of violets above are not enough and you need more, you may want to check out some other recipes such as Sweet Violet Sugar, Sweet Violet Leaf Tea, Sweet Violet Vinegar and Pickled Flowers, Sweet Violet Vinaigrette, Violet Flower and Leaf Salad, Violet Viennese Whirls, and so on at https://www.wildwalks-southwest.co.uk/a-dozen-12-wild-violet-recipes/.