Buy Edible Flowers
Edible flowers aren't a new trend at all. They've been used for centuries, and their popularity as a food rather than just a garnish has made a recent comeback. There is a wide variety of edible flowers. Most vegetable and herb flowers are edible, and many ornamental plants in your garden may be edible, too. Buying dried edible plants can be as easy as walking into the bulk section of a health food store. Fresh edible flowers however, are less common or are often available only during the spring and summer season. Fresh flowers are best eaten soon after being harvested and don't stay fresh for long. Here's the best way to find edible flowers in your neighborhood.
Instructions
1. Check the fresh produce section of your local grocery store. Often, edible flowers can be found near the gourmet vegetables, wild mushrooms or imported vegetables. Usually, you will find a mix of packaged fresh edible flowers rather than one specific type.
2. If you can't find edible flowers at your local grocery store, many health food stores carry edible flowers in the spring and early summer. Look in the fresh produce section for a fresh mix of edible flowers.
3. You also can find an array of edible flowers in the bulk dried herb section of most health food stores. Go to this section to familiarize yourself with the various edible flowers you can buy. You'll likely find hibiscus, rose buds, lavender, calendula and chamomile. These can be used in teas or to flavor cooking oil and vinegars.
4. If you are still unable to find fresh edible flowers at your local health food store, check any gourmet or specialty food shops in the area. Edible flowers are often considered an exotic food and may be found in these types of shops.
5. Once you find a selection of flowers, look them over to find the freshest flowers with no signs of wilting. Also, purchasing organic flowers will lessen your risk of being exposed to toxic pesticides and insecticides that may have been sprayed on the plant.
