10. Edible flowers

Did you know that many flowers, besides being beautiful and fragrant, can also be delicious?

There are many species of edible flowers, which, like aromatic herbs, are good sources of vitamins and minerals and should be added to our diet in small quantities to fully benefit from their aroma.

Let's take a look at some of them!

1. Wild pansy - Viola tricolor

edible parts: flower and sepals (sweet taste)

use: fresh, dried or crystallized, in desserts and drinks

benefits: diuretic

2. Borage - Borago officinalis

edible parts: flower (fresh and salty flavor)

use: fresh in salads, dried in stews

benefits: source of vitamin C, omega 3 and 6, diuretic

3. Pot Marigold - Calendula officinalis

edible parts: flower (sour taste, similar to saffron), leaves and stem

use: fresh in salads or dried in soups and rice

benefits: calming, antifungal, antiallergic, analgesic, (contraindicated during pregnancy)

4. Nasturtium - Tropaeolum majus

edible parts: flower (sweet and spicy flavor), leaves and buds

use: fresh in salads, dried in stews

benefits: source of vitamin C

5. Cornflower - Centaurea cyanus

edible parts: flower (sweet and spicy flavor)

use: fresh in salads, dried in bread, cake and biscuit dough

benefits: diuretic, commonly used to treat mouth ulcers, tea facilitates digestion

6. Geranium

edible parts: flower (citrus flavor)

use: fresh in fruit salads and fresh drinks or dried in cooked foods

benefits: antibacterial, the essential oil is used on the skin as a cosmetic and in the treatment of acne

7. Chinese hibiscus - Hibiscus acetosella, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (na foto), Hibiscus sabdariffa, Hibiscus malvaviscos

edible parts: flower (citrus flavor)

use: resh in cold drinks and salads or dried in tea

benefits: antioxidant, diuretic, (not recommended for pregnant or lactating women)

8. Lavander - Lavandula officinalis

edible parts: flower (citrus flavor)

use: resh or dried in drinks, teas, breads, cakes and cookies

benefits: soothing

9. Rose - Rosa spp.

edible parts: flower (sweet flavor)

use: fresh in fruit salads, desserts and fresh drinks

benefits: source of vitamins C and E, anti-inflammatory

10. Marigold - Tagetes erecta

edible parts: flower (spicy flavor)

use: fresh in salads, dried, in bread or cake dough and tea

benefits: digestive, diuretic, analgesic

I remind you of the importance of carefully choosing the origin of the plants and flowers you use in your diet. Specimens sold for gardening may have undergone fungal treatments or chemical fertilizers that are harmful to your health. It's best to buy from health food stores or grow them at home.

Try it!