The Top 5 Edible Flowers That Belong On Your Plate
When we think of flowers, our minds often picture colorful bouquets, beautiful gardens, and fragrant scents. But did you know that flowers can also work their tantalizing magic on our taste buds? Enter: edible flowers. Flowers have been used for centuries in culinary traditions around the world, adding vibrant colors and unique flavors to a variety of dishes. And with summer in full swing blooming flowers won’t be hard to find, which means there is no better time to discover the many uses of edible flowers than right now.
Here, we're talking about the best flowers to eat right out of your garden, their culinary uses, and how you can easily incorporate them into your recipes. And if you're anything like us you'll be wanting decor to match, so we included a few links to our edible flower products, too.
If you’re excited (or unsure) about how to use flowers in your next meal or beverage, keep scrolling. From delicate petals to vibrant blossoms, the edible gems in this list come in a wide array of flavors ranging from sweet and fruity to herbaceous and spicy. Read on to discover the flavors each of these 5 edible flowers brings to the table and enjoy all they have to offer whether you’re new to the kitchen or a seasoned chef.
1. Roses
Not only are roses a universal symbol of love, but they are also one of the most popular edible flowers. Roses come in many vivid colors and give off a sweet-smelling aroma and refreshing flavor. While some flowers are not fully consumable, roses are completely safe to eat, including their leaves, petals, buds, and hips. Rose petals are the most commonly used part of the flower and bring a mild floral flavor to salads, drinks, and desserts. Whether they are fresh or dried, rose petals are simply a delight to consume. Toss the petals in a salad or use as a garnish over sorbet for dessert. You can also create a rose syrup from dried petals to mix into cocktails. In Greece, it's popular to chop fresh rose petals and mix them with honey to use as a spread.
Roses are one of the best flowers to eat. With 150 varieties of the rose plant to choose from (all of which are edible) you can't go wrong adding them to your next dish. So, this summer, consider stopping and eating the roses. Or better yet, add a few pieces from our rose collection to your cart to keep you feeling rosy and inspired at home all year long. 
Shop our Rose collection of dish towels, sponge cloths, and more.
2. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are brightly colored blossoms with a sweet flavor and a peppery finish. One of the most popular edible flowers, Nasturtiums come in varying shades of orange, yellow, pink, and red, and when fully bloomed, peak out just above their lush greenery. These versatile flowers are easiest to add to salads and stir-frys, thanks to their peppery, watercress- like taste that pairs well with mild lettuce and vegetables. Both the flowers and leaves have a similar taste and can be eaten. Nasturtium seed pods, often formed in late summer, can also be pickled and used as a caper substitute.
Snag our "I Lilac Purple" Dish Towel Set and our variety of lilac-themed greeting cards here.
3. Lilacs
Every spring, lilacs appear in clusters of lavender-colored flowers and fill the air with a sweet-smelling aroma for 2 to 6 weeks. Though lilacs bloom for only a short period they can be enjoyed all year long, thanks to their sweet edible nature. Lilacs have a slightly bitter taste and sweet, lemony flavor and scent, which pair well with desserts like ice cream, cakes, custards, and pudding. Infuse lilacs into sugar to easily add the sweet floral qualities of lilacs into baked goods or simply use it to garnish a cocktail or decorate a cake. And don't forget to shop our lilac collection to brighten up your kitchen decor and more.
4. Sunflowers
Most people know you can eat a sunflower’s seeds. But did you know this edible flower's petals, leaves, stalks, and buds are also fully consumable? Though the entire sunflower is edible, each part has a certain taste. Sunflower petals have a bittersweet taste and are often used in salads or as a garnish for stir-frys and soups. The leaves can be used like spinach or steeped to make a tea, and when steamed, the buds taste like an artichoke. This may come as a surprise to some but even the stalks are edible. Similar to celery, sunflower stalks can be eaten with peanut butter or dips.
5. Marigolds
Marigolds’ gorgeous golden hue is just part of their appeal. This edible flower has a zingy taste that ranges from mildly citrus to subtly spicy. Pot marigolds bloom all summer long, and in many areas, through the fall season, making them a great choice to add to your summer salads and fall dishes. The leaves are also edible and can be added to spice up soups. Add our Marigold dish towel to brighten and spice up your kitchen.
Edible flowers are not only unique in taste but their brightly colored blooms on your plates are known to be a real mood booster. Drop a comment below and let us know which flowers you’ll be adding to your dishes and beverages this summer!
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