There's no end to the ways that flowers can be used in the kitchen. Flavor aside, many of these edible flowers have medicinal properties, too. Lavender has long been used to soothe stress, anxiety, and insomnia, among other physical and mental ailments. Purple Coneflower, or echinacea, has always been prized for its antiviral and immune-boosting properties.
To harvest flowers for therapeutic or culinary use, look for buds that have opened but are not yet spent (pollinated flowers will look dirty). Pick flower heads to use as garnishes for dishes and drinks, but harvest several inches of stem to dry flowers for tea. Bundle the stems together and hang to dry in a dry, dark place to retain the petals' color. Edible flowers also have edible foliage, so feel free to use the leaves and flowers in tea!
We are passionate about health at Eden Brothers, and that's why we took the Safe Seed Pledge—to ensure that your seed will always be 100% seed, free of additives or fillers and GMOs. You can sow (and eat) edible flower seeds with confidence—just be sure to properly identify flowers as edible varieties before eating them.
Beauty and nutrition don't always have to be distinct from one another—we actually believe that the two are inseparable. Have some fun with your vegetable garden this year and grow edible flowers!