Ah, flowers. Aside from being beautiful to behold, they have myriad meanings ranging from the touchingly sweet to the subtly bitter, making them perfect gifts especially on the widely celebrated (capitalist) holiday that is Valentine’s Day.
If you’ve been racking your brain for a unique bouquet idea that isn’t just roses (or vegetables or money or useful medicine, which are so 2021), here’s something different. For your significant others who are absolute foodies and cooks, gather some edible flowers.
Rose
Let’s start with the most common. Nothing says love and Valentine’s more than roses, but the good thing is that roses are also edible. You can infuse petals in water, include them in salads, or use them as a garnish for drinks and desserts.
However, be careful about the type of roses you get. Best to use homegrown roses, or those grown explicitly for the purpose of consumption, as roses from your local florist may have been sprayed with insecticides and other chemicals.
Bougainvillea
We recently wrote about Terra Bomba, which just released new pizza flavors, one of which comes topped with vibrant bougainvillea flowers. Makes us curious what other dishes would work well with bougainvillea.
[READ: This plant-based pizza has lagundi leaves and bougainvillea flowers—yes, it’s edible]Bougainvilleas are said to be lightly bitter, and can be eaten either fresh in a salad, or even fried in batter. You can also add them as decoration.
Impatiens
Also known as the touch-me-not, the impatiens flower is also a common, bright flower used in dishes. Its petals are sweet, and can add flavor to desserts, salads, and drinks.
Cosmos
Another edible garden bloom is the cosmos, specifically, the Cosmos sulphureus and Cosmos caudatus varieties. Aside from its sweet name (it traces its origins from the Greek word “kosmos” which means “order” and “harmony”), organically grown cosmos flowers can be used in salads, while its leaves can also be cooked.
Alugbati flowers
You probably already eat alugbati, but did you know you can also eat its flowers? The alugbati vine produces clusters of tiny white and purplish flowers that can be used to garnish dishes and desserts.
Roselle
A variety of hibiscus, the roselle flower has gained popularity in recent years because not only is it edible, it has a number of health benefits, too, as it has vitamins and minerals. Though usually prepared as tea, roselle flowers can also be made into jams and sauces.
Blue ternate or butterfly pea
This vibrant blue flower is native to Asia. It’s most popularly used in drinks, from tea and cocktails to trendy color-changing juices. The flower can also be used as a natural dye for food and as an ingredient in salads.
Squash blossoms
Another addition to our list of vegetables with equally edible flowers is the squash. It has soft yellow-orange blossoms that taste mildly like squash, too. Squash blossoms can be added to salads, or can be stuffed and fried.
Nasturtium
Aside from having bright, beautiful flowers that look great in gardens, the nasturtium also makes a good addition to salads and sandwiches both in terms of color and flavor. The flowers are said to have a peppery and spicy taste.
A rule of (green) thumb before you get, gift, and use any of these blooms though: Make sure they’re grown organically. Happy Valentine’s Day!