|
|
I adapted this chart from one published by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service – Basically theirs had several more flowers listed, but these are the only ones that would be suitable for cake. I mean,you don’t want to put onion flowers on your cake, or something whose taste is described as bitter, or strong. I eliminated all the ones that weren’t sweet. At the bottom of the chart is a list of books that the University recommends, to learn more about edible flowers.
| Common name |
Scientific name |
Flavor |
Color |
Comments |
| Anise hyssop |
Agastache foeniculum |
Anise |
Lilac |
Self seeding perennial |
| Apple |
Malus spp. |
Floral |
White to pink |
Eat in moderation since flowers contain cyanide precursors |
| Bee balm |
Monarda didyma |
Minty, sweet, hot |
Wide range |
Perennial |
| Chamomile |
Chamaemelum noblis |
Sweet apple |
White |
Perennial; drink tea in moderation — contains thuaone; ragweed sufferers may be allergic to chamomile |
| Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale |
Sweet, honey-like |
Yellow |
Perennial; use young flowers, mature flowers become bitter; flowers close after picking |
| Daylily |
Hemerocallis spp. |
Vegetal, sweet |
Wide range |
Perennial; may act as a diuretic or laxative; eat in moderation |
| Dianthus |
Dianthus spp. |
Sweet clove flavor |
Wide range |
Perennial; remove the narrow base of the petals (bitter) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Elderberry |
Sambucus canadensis |
Sweet |
White |
Perennial; do not wash flowers since it removes much of the flavor |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fennel |
Foeniculum vulgare |
Mildly anise |
Yellow-green |
Normally grown as an annual |
| Hibiscus |
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis |
Mildly citrus |
Rose, red |
Showy edible garnish |
|
|
|
|
|
| Honeysuckle |
Lonicera japonica |
Sweet |
White to pale yellow |
Perennial; do not use other honeysuckle flowers |
| Johnny-jump-up |
Viola tricolor |
Wintergreen |
Purple and yellow |
Annual; the petals have little flavor unless the green sepals are included; contain saponins and may be toxic in large amounts |
| Lavender |
Lavendula spp. |
Sweet, perfumed flavor |
Lavender |
Perennial; use sparingly due to intense flavor; lavender oil may be poisonous |
| Lilac |
Syringa vulgaris |
Varies |
Lavender |
Wide variation in flavor — from no flavor to green and herbaceous to lilac |
| Linden |
Tilia spp. |
Honey-like |
White |
Frequent consumption of linden flower tea can cause heart damage |
| Mint |
Mentha spp. |
Minty |
Purple |
Perennial; each type of mint has its own unique flavor |
| Pineapple sage |
Salvia elegans |
Sweet, fruity |
Red |
Perennial; flavor has a hint of mint and spice |
| Red clover |
Trifolium pratense |
Sweet |
Red |
Annual; raw clover flowers are not easily digestible |
| Rose |
Rosa spp. |
Perfumed |
Wide range |
Perennial: remove the white, bitter base of the petal |
| Sweet woodruff |
Galium odoratum |
Sweet, nutty, vanilla |
White |
Can have a blood thinning effect if eaten in large amounts |
| Violet |
Viola odorata |
Sweet, perfumed |
Purple, white |
Perennial; use candied or fresh |
Pineapple party foods are fun to look at and to eat. Slice a pineapple in half and hollow it out, then fill it with tuna salad or chicken salad or even just some veggie dip.
Fruit kabobs make great tropical luau foods – line up grapes, chunks of watermelon, cantaloupe, berries, mandarin orange slices, bananas, pineapple, apple chunks and pear wedges, then display them by poking the bamboo skewers into a pineapple
Use a fishbowl to serve goldfish crackers and call them “koi”
Macadamia nuts are tasty, add them to trail mix or party mix
Place a large bowl inside of a beachcomber hat, to decorate the table.
Maggie Stewart from Associated Content has published a fantastic article with 15 Luau party games for kids to play. Look for The Great Shell Search, Musical Beach Towels, Lay on the Leis, Crazy Beach Dress and Dash, Luau Coconut Roll, Coconut Bowling, Hot Flamingo, Fish-Fish-Shark, Beach Bingo, Pin the Coconut on the Palm Tree, Pass the Kiwi, Flip-Flop Frenzy, The Great Poi Eating Contest, Sharks and Minnows, and Guess the Shells. Click here for 15 Luau Party games.
Make fairy party decorations.
You can make paper flower streamers and it’s so easy. Picture a giant Hawaiian lei, strung up from the ceiling, trailing down chairs, they’re beautiful.
These worked well for our Tinker bell party, but would also do well with a Hawaiian Luau, or a tropical party, a Secret Garden party, even a Barbie or Dora the Explorer party.
Cut several 6 inch circles from a stack of colorful tissue paper.
Pinch together the center of the circle, and staple. Then, snip into the “petals” about 1/2-1 inch deep and then “wrinkle” the petals. That’s all there is to it. To string them up, thread a needle with fishing line and “sew” them together, use a knot at the bast of each flower 9wrapped around the staple) for stability. They can be close together or far apart. I liked mine with about 10 inches between the flowers because I hung them with white Christmas lights and green ivy. I also added ribbon to the ends of them. The gola was a wild and messy look that’s part cartoon magic and part nature.
|
For less than the cost of a bakery cake…  Frosted Dreams is cool enough on its own, but even better with my fondant recipe
FREE RECIPE:
My Amazing Birthday Cake Fondant Recipe seriously, it's so yummy and sometimes I make it JUST to eat. |
