by M Jayne

Created on: May 20, 2010   Last Updated: May 21, 2010

Pleasing to the sight and heavenly to our sense of smell, flowers are used for all sorts of special occasions and home decoration. Oils from flowers are used in aromatherapy, and certain flowers are even used as a dietary therapy due their medicinal value.  Now, cooking with flowers is the latest addition to kitchens around the world, as cooks, chefs and parents introduce edible flowers into their cuisine.

Edible flowers are high in nutritional value including vitamins, minerals and micro nutrients.  Flowers also add scent and flavor to foods and are enjoyable to use as a cooking ingredient.  With health being closely related to what we put into our bodies, we can consider cooking with flowers to be healthy and exciting cuisine.

Some Flowers with Medicinal Value

1.  Osmanthus Flower

Helps relieve coughing and aids in dissolving phlegm.

2.  Chrysanthemum Flower

Helps dispel pathogenic heat, improve eyesight, ease red eyes, benefit the lungs and treat ulcers.  Also effective in improving the immunity of capillary vessels and conditions of aging.

3.  Chinese Rose Flower

Can help with blood circulation, assist in regulating menstrual cycles, aids in digestion by promoting bile secretion and nourishing the intestines.

4.  Peony Flower

A bitter tasting energy herb that nourishes the blood and liver and also Yin energy. It is used to treat diarrhea, irregular menstrual periods, relieves acne and improves complexion.  Often used to treat depression and bad temper.

There are many different flowers that can be used for their medicinal properties and flavors when added to cuisine, but there are also toxic flowers so an awareness level needs to be taken into account before one begins to cook with edible flowers.  The key word here is "Edible."  Use an flowers chart as a guide to knowing which flowers are edible, their flavors and medicinal properties.

It also beneficial for one to learn how to select the edible flowers being cooked with and how to wash and care for them prior to cooking.

Follow these rules when cooking with edible flowers.

1. Flower ID

Make a positive identification of the flower(s) you will be cooking with.  Ensure they are on the edible flowers chart, even if the recipe has named them. Supermarkets usually carry edible flowers, normally found in the fresh herbs section.  It is essential to check the quality of the flowers, as they are highly perishable and expensive at the same time. Plus,

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