The appeal of flowers ‘goes beyond the aesthetic’

Flowers have been handed over as gifts and used as decorations throughout history and there is no sign of their popularity dwindling. Indeed, the market for these natural delights is booming, particularly as more people are ordering flowers online.

However, one individual has pointed out that the appeal of floral offerings goes beyond the purely aesthetic. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, cookery and food expert Rose Prince said they are often edible too. She noted that the scent of petals can be “seductive”, adding: “Since roses were brought from the East to Europe, their heady flavour has found its way into numerous sweet dishes and confectionary.”

The culinary enthusiast went on to state: “Recently their use has been extended beyond the boxes of rose and violet creams – not that we don’t love those. A trend for Middle Eastern dishes has introduced the Moroccan spice mix ras el hanut to British cooks, which contains rose petals that add extra fragrance to braised lamb and chicken.”

Meanwhile, dried Moroccan rose petals can be used alone or to make a tisane, or herbal infusion. Also, they can be ground and scattered on ice cream.Ms Prince went on to state that rose scented syrup can be added to prosecco and a couple of petals from such flowers can be added to the beverage for a finishing touch. In addition, hibiscus flowers preserved in syrup can be placed in a glass of champagne.

So, as well as ordering flowers online as a gift or a decoration for their homes, consumers can buy in floral treats to use in their cooking. This adds a whole new dimension to the products.Indeed, these days it is increasingly popular for chefs to use petals in salads and as a garnish for dishes. Of course, it is crucial that those who source the colourful and fragrant additions to meals know what they are doing, as some flowers are poisonous to eat.