A group of flowering plants that are most often used to garnish or enhance the appearance and flavor of various foods. The petals or the entire flower can be placed into, around, or on foods for the desired results. As another alterna- tive, the petals can be candied and served as a sweet addition with different types of food. When the flower petals are to be consumed, make sure they are cleaned thoroughly and have not been exposed to or contain chemicals and pesticides. Since some flowers may be poisonous or contain strong allergens, identify the flower type before assuming it can be consumed. Do not attempt to consume petals that are from unknown varieties of plants or flowers. Make sure the identification is correct to be confident it is an edible variety, or if not edible, make sure it has not been used simply as a decoration that comes in contact with the food being consumed. It is always wise to consider buying flowers from food stores or speciality stores, where the variety is identified and classified as Edible. Edible Flowers grown from seeds should be picked early or late in the day to assure they contain as much moisture as possible. Select flowers with healthy looking petals and stalks, removing the bitter tast- ing pistils, stamens and white section at the base of the petal. If flowers are to be stored, keep them refrigerated or placed in water prior to serving. Flowers can be tightly wrapped and stored refrigerated for up to a week however, it is always best if possible, to serve shortly after picking.
