FLOWERS
Flowers have been used in cooking, aromatic drinks, wines and spirits throughout history, including a recipe in the earliest surviving cookbook by the Roman Apicius for brains with rose petals.
Some of the edible varieties include herb flowers, cloves, capers, roses, safflower, violets, chrysanthemum, nasturtium, marigold, jasmine, hibiscus, elderflower, hyssop, ratafia; orange, peach, plum and squash blossoms; red poppy, honeysuckle, mimosa, lemon flowers, garlic flowers, forget-me-nots, primula, lotus blossoms, primrose, pansies, pinks, daisys, rocquette flowers, fuchsias, carnations, chive flowers, hollyhock, gladiolus, tulips, yucca, mustard flowers, bean blossoms, and dandelions.
Use caution however, as there are also many flowers which are poisonous. If you are not sure, do not try it! Don't eat flowers from a florist, many have been sprayed with pesticides.
Common garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) also called Indian Cress, Mexican Cress, Peru Cress and Jesuit's Cress, is native to Central and South America (not to be confused with the genus Nasturtium, which is Watercress). Nasturtiums are one of the most widely recognized edible flowers.
Nasturtiums, Tropaeolum majus, are grown worldwide, both as garden flowers and for culinary uses. The brilliant yellow, orange or red flowers and peppery flavored leaves are used in salads (See Nasturtium Salad recipe). The flowers may also be chopped and used to flavor butters, cream cheese and vinegar; the immature flower buds and seed pods may be pickled and used like capers. There is also a species found in the Andes which is a vegetable tuber crop.
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