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However, it is unwise, not to mention downright dangerous, to run to the nearest garden and pick some flowers to eat. Although there are many safely edible flowers, the inedible flowers could be potentially fatal. The first rule is to educate yourself about the types of safely edible flowers available. To get an idea of how careful you should be, take a look at The Ten Rules of Edible Flowers listed on the Fulcrum Gardening site. Once you understand where not to look for flowers, you can move on to the best places to get safe flowers for cooking. There are two options for finding flowers to serve in meals. Flowers can be bought or home-grown. The advantage of purchasing flowers is that the work and the wait have been taken care of for you. Besides the higher cost of purchasing commercially grown flowers, you also need to be sure that the flowers are grown organically; without any harmful chemicals. Growing your own flowers is more time-consuming, but you can be sure that there are no harmful pesticides or growth regulators sprayed on the plants. The Gourmet Gardner sells edible flower seeds for home growing. If you are in the market for crystallized flowers for desserts and decorations, Meadowsweets and Sudden Elegance, Ltd. both sell candied flowers and crystallization kits. When consuming flowers, only the petals should be eaten. They contain the best flavor, so remove the stems, pistils, and stamens (the inner parts of the flower) before using. This also reduces the likelihood of allergic reaction. Treat flowers as you would any new food; eat a small amount of only one variety to make sure that you do not develop an allergy to that type of flower. Trying too many flowers all at once can lead to upset stomach, diarrhea and stomach cramps. An easy was to taste-test a new flower is to add ½ cup of the flowers to 4 ounces of cream cheese. Allow the mixture to sit to develop the flavor of the flowers. Try the spread on crackers. This method also works for herbs and allows you to taste the full flavor of the plant. Once you have found a flower that you enjoy, try this simple Floral Sandwich recipe. It works with several different kinds of flowers, so don't be afraid to experiment.
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