Skip to main content

Distributed for Reaktion Books

Edible Flowers

A Global History

Most of us like to look at them, but why on earth would anyone want to eat them? As Constance L. Kirker and Mary Newman show in this book, however, flowers have a long history as a tasty ingredient in a variety of cuisines. The Greeks, Romans, Persians, Ottomans, Mayans, Chinese, and Indians all knew how to cook with them for centuries, and today contemporary chefs use them to add something special to their dishes.
            Edible Flowers is the fascinating history of how flowers have been used in cooking, from ancient Greek dishes to the today’s molecular gastronomy and farm-to-table restaurants. Looking at flowers’ natural qualities: their unique and beautiful appearance, their pungent fragrance, and their surprisingly good taste, Kirker and Newman proffer a bouquet of dishes—from soups to stews to desserts to beverages—that use them in interesting ways. Tying this culinary history into a larger cultural one, they show how flowers’ cultural, symbolic, and religious connotations have added value and meaning to dishes in daily life and special occasions. From fried squash blossoms to marigold dressings, this book rediscovers the flower not just as something beautiful but as something absolutely delicious.
 

144 pages | 45 color plates, 15 halftones | 5 x 7 3/4 | © 2016

Edible

Food and Gastronomy


Reaktion Books image

View all books from Reaktion Books

Reviews

"Broad in scope, Kirker’s work explains the use of edible flowers from ancient times to the present day . . . It is a whistlestop tour that stays engaging and the history doesn’t simply cherry pick the sentimental stories . . . The book also contains flower-based recipes as well as precautions for eating flowers and, perhaps unlike some of the crops mentioned, it is very easy to digest."

English Garden

"This neat little book is part of a fascinating series called Edible, in which each volume explores the rich history of individual foods and drink – from Apple to Whisky, with diversions en route to Olives, Nuts, Onions and Garlic. Did you know that the Romans believed that eating calendula helps you to see fairies? Maybe you want to cook Beef with Rosebuds? A surprising and enjoyable read."

Garden Organic

“This beautifully illustrated, delightful book is one in the long-standing series ‘Edible,’ which focuses on the history of the consumption of specific foods. The authors classify and describe flowers that have been consumed in a variety of ways (according to geographic location) and provide a time line of when these flowers were used (the ancient world, the Middle Ages, etc.). Flowers and other parts of plants have been used with foods in many ancient cultures—the Chinese, Greeks, and Romans incorporated flowers into food. This practice has continued—for colorful use, delicate flavor, as well as some nutritional qualities. Recommended.”

Choice

"Kirker and Newman take us on a journey to the past, going back to the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, and around the world, to discover intriguing traditions and symbols."

Gambero Rosso

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 The Ancient World
2 The Middle Ages to the Nineteenth Century
3 The Victorian Era to Today
4 Asia
5 The Mediterranean and the Middle East
6 Europe
7 The Americas
Afterword
 
Precautions When Eating Edible Flowers
Flower Dinner Menu
Recipes
Select Bibliography
Websites and Associations
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
 

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press