The Romans almost worshipped borage and its gastronomic virtues. Roses occupied an important place on the table of kings during the Middle Ages. In the Far East and especially in Japan, that land of culinary surprises, a great number of delights still rely on the use of flowers. Rosa canina Flowers were gradually eliminated from menus with the advent of refrigeration and the great variety of food available. Chefs more recently started using flowers anew to garnish dishes, and eating flowers has become increasingly fashionable in fine cuisine.
Edible flowers offer gourmets a new range of colors, forms, textures, scents and flavors.
Although flowers are grown almost everywhere, they are not necessarily found in all dinner plates. But, a word to the wise, they are not all edible. The Economic Plant Garden offers a flowery border for discovering the edible flowers, from the end of June to September.