Usually I like to leave the wild violets in the yard because they last so much longer than when they’re picked. They were about to be mowed though, so I quickly gathered a bunch of them to bring in the house. They have the sweetest, most delicate scent. I could hardly keep my nose out of the bouquet!
Wild and Sweet
Sweet violets not only grow very easily, they’re edible too. You can candy them to decorate cakes or baked goods, sprinkle them in salads, make violet vinegar, or Violet Syrup. The syrup is said to be amazing in its color and aroma. It can be added to icing, beverages, or used to make violet ice cream. It sounds extraordinary, doesn’t it? It was only recently that I learned how many things you can do with these beautiful flowers. When they bloom next year, I’ll definitely be out there gathering blooms to make my own Violet Syrup!
I have a book with very old recipes in it that are mostly for roses. The spelling is quaint and the recipes can be a bit tricky to follow. They’re also fun to read and quite inspiring. Here’s the recipe for Sirop of Violets. I thought you might enjoy reading it too, so here it is, as it was written.
To Make A Sirop Of Roses Or Violets
Take of violets or roses a pounde, steepe them in three pints of warme water, put it in an earthen pot with a narrow mouth the space of seven houres or more. AFTER straine it and warme the water againe and put in againe so many Roses or Violets, and likewise let them lye in steepe eight houres, and thus do at the least five times, the oftener the better, in especiall the roses, and after take to every pint a pounde of sugar and steepe them together, till the sugar be molten, then seethe them together with a soft sweet fire to ght height of a Sirrup; if you have more Roses or Violets, or fewer and let so much be the proportion of the water, according to the proportions before. —The Good Housewife’s Handmaid 1585
When the time comes to make my own Violet Syrup I plan to use the recipe from either Culinate, or the one from RecipeZaar. If you’ve ever made this or tried it, I would love to hear any tips, your own great recipe, or just how you liked it.
So, now there are even more reasons to love violets. As if we needed more reasons to love them!
Funny you post that they are edible. Someone just sent me a list of edible flowers! lol Your violets are beautiful!
So lovely, Karen – and thank you for letting me know that they are edible! I knew pansies were.
Just stunning Karen….I love to put violets in my salad..:)
RObin
Very interesting, leave it to you to find a way to make syrup from flowers. I’ll bet that it is very good too. I have always heard that there is nothing new under the sun. Let us know how it works out.
You come up with such interesting tidbits, Karen. Love love love that vase! And the flowers are nice too. 🙂
The photography is excellent and I love the details! I have actually had Violet Jam. It was a nice memory and this image and your caption reminded me of it. Thanks Karen!
Thank you all so much for the lovely comments!
@Pam – It must be in the air, flowers and creative uses for them. That’s so neat that you just received the list.
@Allie – Have you tried Nasturtiums? They’re peppery and very nice in salads. They grow fast too.
@Robin – So cool! I really didn’t know you could eat these until this year. How did I not know for so long? 🙂
@Delma – You know how I love to try making new things! Hopefully you’ll get to try the syrup too.
@Michelle – I have a long time love of green glass, especially the Depression glass green color. My sweet great-aunt Josephine gave that vase to me, along with other beautiful green glass pieces. Lucky me!
@Sharon – Violet Jam sounds wonderful! I’m so glad this reminded you of a nice memory.
The image is beautiful. Didn’t know you could make syrup from flowers, hope you’ll let us know how it works out if you make some next year.