Yes and no. The purple drupes that ripen after the flowers fade are considered edible, but they are quite small and occupied mostly by seeds, and thus are almost never harvested for food as are other members of the olive family. The fruits are also quite bitter until they fully ripen, which can take as much as six months. However, the aromatic flowers of this plant are often used to infuse teas, jams, and other recipes—this is the reason the plant is called "tea olive."