A Guide to Edible Flowers

Lilac

There’s nothing like the smell of lilac (Syringa vulgaris) shrubs in springtime. Fortunately, you can capture the heady aroma of a lilac in bloom and put it to use for your palate. Although the flavour of this purple flower can vary, it’s typically a little bit lemony and, well, floral. It’s best used in dessert dishes, so try baking lilac blossoms into scones or mixing them into cream cheese or frozen yogurt.  

Tip: For best results, pick the flowers soon after they’ve opened.

Image credit: flickr.com/ James Bowe