Edible flowers have become increasingly popular for their vibrant colors and for their ability to add flavor, texture, or beauty to food. Whole Foods Market is a natural foods grocery store that offers various organic edible flowers in many of its locations. Edible flowers are perishable, so they must be purchased pre-packaged and not sold as one single flower at Whole Foods. In this guide, you will learn about the types of edible flowers available at Whole Foods as well as how to use them in your dishes and recipes.
Whole Foods’ Edible Flower Selection
Whole Foods is a great place to shop for high quality, organic and fresh ingredients. In addition to the traditional fruits and vegetables, Whole Foods also stocks a wide variety of edible flowers. You’ll find everything from nasturtiums to squash blossoms, and they make a beautiful addition to your salads and meals. In this article, we’ll look at what edible flowers Whole Foods stocks, and how you can use them in your kitchen.
Types of Edible Flowers
Edible flowers can make a stunning presentation when added to salads, desserts, drinks, and more. In the past, they have only been available to chefs at posh restaurants, but now you can buy them in your local grocery store. Whole Foods carries a wide selection of edible flowers in their floral department throughout the year.
Broadleaf Plantain
Broadleaf plantain is one of the few edible flowers available year-round. It has an herbal flavor that is slightly spicy with a hint of grassiness or tender cucumber skin. It can be used as a garnish on drinks or salads to add an unexpected bright and flavorful touch. The flower heads are usually yellow and grow in clusters on top of long green stalks that may reach up 10 inches tall.
Johnny Jump-Ups
These cheerful little blooms will instantly dress up any dish with their colorfully veined petals in shades of purple, blue, yellow, red and white – sometimes all within one flower head! Johnny jump-ups have a sweet yet mild flavor similar to lettuce or celery and are best enjoyed raw as a pretty garnish for individual servings or desserts like cupcakes and ice cream sundaes. Their short stature makes them perfect for smaller dishes like tea sandwiches too!
Pansies
Nothing says “spring” quite like fuzzy purple pansies! These little beauties are delicate little members of the violet family that come in traditional shades as well as interesting bicolors like orange/yellow and lavender/blue combos! They mingle nicely with salads greens and add a mild sweetness that’s similar to wintergreen mints or chamomile tea . You can even macerate them in honey for an elegant topping to ice cream sundaes!
Nasturtiums
These festive flowers explode into eccentric bursts of reds, yellows greens and oranges! They also boast thin spiky foliage that’s just as eye catching as the blooms themselves These peppery buds are best enjoyed young since mature nasturtiums have seeds inside them that some find distasteful but perfectly safe to consume. Their bold flavor pairs nicely with milder ingredients such as watercress or mild hard cheeses like Gruyere cheese which complements its sharp vibrant taste perfectly !
Availability of Edible Flowers at Whole Foods
Whole Foods offers a wide selection of edible flowers. In the produce sections, they are often pre-packaged and labeled, particularly in larger stores. The varieties of edible flowers sold at Whole Foods include calendula, pansy, lavender and marigold petals. Additionally, high-end specialty shops may also offer more complex varieties such as jasmine and chrysanthemum.
When purchasing edible flowers from Whole Foods, it is important that you inspect the quality closely, choosing only blossoms that are free from wilting or discoloration. Also check to make sure there are no bugs or other debris hidden within the petals or not visible to the naked eye. Choosing fresh culinary flowers from a reliable source is essential for delicious dishes and upscale presentations.
Moreover, always inspect for pesticide residue on any food product prior to consumption – this is especially true for edible flowers as their delicate nature means they can easily absorb chemicals if not properly sorted and stored by producers prior to sale. For your own safety, use only organically verified products at all times when preparing consumption-grade flower dishes.
Benefits of Eating Edible Flowers
Many people don’t realize that edible flowers can add a nice, aesthetically pleasing and delicious kick to their recipes. Edible flowers are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they can also be beneficial to one’s health. Eating edible flowers can provide vitamins and minerals, and they can also act as natural flavorings and aromatics. Let’s look at some of the benefits of eating edible flowers.
Health Benefits
Edible flowers have a range of health benefits that make them a great addition to your diet. They are Vitamin packed and contain antioxidants that help with inflammation, skin health, digestion and overall well-being. Certain edible flowers contain high levels of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and more. Edible flowers can also be used in teas to expand their wellness capabilities. The natural sweetness of edible flowers may also help with blood sugar control and the reduction of sugar cravings. Eating edible flowers can also benefit those who suffer from allergies or have an autoimmune illness due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Here are some other health benefits associated with edible flowers:
• High Vitamin Content: Edible flowers contain Vitamins A, B complex, C and E as well as Omega-3 fatty acids and many other essential vitamins which are important for overall health.
• Antioxidant Boost: Many edible flowers offer a boost in antioxidants which play an important role in fighting off free radicals in the body which can cause disease over time if left unchecked.
• Detoxifying Properties: Some edible flowers possess detoxifying properties that can help flush out toxins from the body while generally assisting digestion and absorption of nutrients within food we eat.
• Boosts Immunity: Eating edible flowers is known to help boost immunity due to their natural ability to fight off germs through their antibacterial properties as well as providing additional vitamins for healthy cell regeneration throughout the body.
Culinary Benefits
Edible flowers have become the latest trend in healthy, creative, and beautiful dining. Not only do they provide an elegant finish to a meal, but they serve a variety of culinary benefits as well. Here are just a few of the top reasons why edible flowers are becoming so popular:
1. Color: With their bright colors and interesting shapes, edible flowers add vibrancy to any plate. They make for stunning plates when expertly combined with other foods.
2. Diet: Edible flowers are naturally lower in calories than many other healthy foods, making them a nutritious variation that can be easily incorporated into healthy diets.
3. Aroma and Taste: Edible flowers offer an explosion of flavor that is both floral and earthy. Their perfect combination of aroma and taste can provide unique layers to dishes due to their delicate nature when used sparingly compared to harsh herbs or spices which can easily overpower a meal or drink if used too much.
4. Variety: There is an endless array of edible flower varieties available depending on what you’d like to cook or includes in salads or drinks! Common edible flowers include nasturtiums, roses, pansies/violas, lavender chamomile, borage blossoms and many more! Each flower provides its own unique flavor profile to meals creating a one-of-a-kind gourmet experience with every dish served!
5. Health Benefits: Many edible flowers offer health benefits due largely to their antioxidant properties which help reduce inflammation in addition to providing cardiovascular support with compounds like anthocyanins found in certain types of blooms like violets & elderberry petals .
