Ever thought about how to elevate the taste, hue, or scent of your cocktails? If yes, then you should consider infusing your cocktails with edible flowers. These flowers do not only look appealing, but they are also flavorful, healthy, and adaptable. They can inject sophistication, playfulness, and imagination to any cocktail gathering.
Flowers that are safe to eat and suitable for cooking are referred to as edible flowers. They’ve been a part of various global cuisines, such as Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Mediterranean, for hundreds of years. Edible flowers can enhance the taste, smell, appearance, and feel of food and drinks. Some also offer medicinal properties and health advantages.
Numerous varieties of edible flowers can be incorporated into cocktails, and we’ve narrowed it down to top 10 most common and readily available ones. These include hibiscus, peonies, roses, violas, honeysuckles, lavender, pansies, marigolds, sunflowers, and cherry blossoms. In this piece, we will demonstrate how to utilize these edible flowers in cocktails, along with some sample cocktail recipes that highlight them. Let’s dive right in!
10 Edible Flowers For Cocktails
Hibiscus
A tropical flower with a vivid red hue and a tart, flowery flavor is the hibiscus. It tastes similar to pomegranate or cranberry. Jams, sauces, syrups, and teas all frequently contain hibiscus. It also contains a lot of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamin C.
You can prepare your own hibiscus syrup by simmering some dried hibiscus flowers with sugar and water to use in cocktails. Additionally, you can make some hibiscus tea and use it as the base for your beverages. As an alternative, you can just add a few fresh or dried hibiscus flowers to your cocktails as a garnish.
The whiskey hibiscus drink is an illustration of a hibiscus-based cocktail recipe1. This cool beverage contains whiskey, lemon juice, hibiscus. syrup, club soda, and ice. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 2 oz of whiskey, 1 oz of lemon juice, and 1oz of hibiscus syrup to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into a highball glass
- Top with club soda and garnish with a hibiscus flower
Enjoy your whiskey hibiscus cocktail!
Peonies
Large, fragrant peonies are available in a range of hues, including pink, white, yellow, and red. They taste like strawberries or roses and are sweet and flowery. Cakes, salads, and desserts frequently have peonies as decorations. In addition, they contain plenty of vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory substances.
You may create your own peony infusion to add to cocktails by steeping some fresh or dried peony petals in vodka or gin for approximately a week. By combining some peony infusion with sparkling water, lemon juice, and sugar, you may create your own peony spritzer. As an alternative, you could just use some fresh or dried peony petals as cocktail garnishes.
The peony rose spritzer is an illustration of a cocktail recipe that incorporates flowers. This drink is made with vodka infused with peonies, rose water, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling water, and ice. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 2 oz of peony-infused vodka, 1/2 oz of rose water, 1/2 oz of lemon juice, and 1/2 oz of simple syrup to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into a wine glass
- Top with sparkling water and garnish with a peony petal
Enjoy your peony rose spritzer!
Roses
The world’s most popular and romantic flower is the rose. Depending on the color and kind of rose, they have a delicate and fragrant flavor. Syrups, jams, liqueurs, and teas frequently contain rose petals. They are also a good source of essential oils, antioxidants, and vitamin C.
By simmering some fresh or dried rose petals with sugar and water, you may prepare your own rose syrup to use in cocktails. By soaking some fresh or dried rose petals in brandy or rum for approximately a month, you may also produce your own rose liqueur. As an alternative, you could just add some fresh or dried rose petals as a garnish to your cocktails.
The kiss of rose drink is an illustration of a rose-infused cocktail recipe. This drink, which blends rose liqueur, vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and ice, is sweet and fragrant. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 1 oz of rose liqueur, 1 oz of vodka, 2 oz of cranberry juice, and 1/2 oz of lime juice to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into a martini glass
- Garnish with a rose petal
Enjoy your kiss of rose cocktail!
Violas
A mild and sweet flavor characterizes violas, which are little, colorful flowers. They are available in different hues of pink, white, yellow, purple, blue, and blue-green. Veils, salads, and desserts frequently feature violas as an ingredient. Additionally, they contain a lot of vitamin C, anti-inflammatory substances, and antioxidants.
Make your own viola ice cubes by freezing some fresh or dried viola flowers in water and using them in cocktails. Another option is to make your own viola tonic by steeping some dried or fresh viola flowers in tonic water for about an hour. As an alternative, you could just add a few viola flowers to your cocktails as garnishes, either fresh or dried.
The viola gin and tonic is an illustration of a cocktail recipe that incorporates violas. Gin, tonic water, lime juice, ice, and viola ice cubes are combined to create this traditional and cooling cocktail. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a highball glass with ice
- Add 2 oz of gin and 4 oz of tonic water to the glass
- Squeeze half a lime over the drink and stir
- Add some viola ice cubes and garnish with a viola flower
Enjoy your viola gin and tonic!
Honeysuckles
The nectar-filled, sweet-tasting flowers known as honeysuckles are fragrant and have a floral scent. They typically have the colors white, yellow, or pink. Syrups, lemonades, teas, and wines frequently contain honeysuckle as an ingredient. Additionally, they contain a lot of vitamin C, antioxidants, and antibacterial substances.
You can make your own honeysuckle syrup by simmering some fresh or dried honeysuckle flowers with sugar and water to use in cocktails. You can also make your own honeysuckle lemonade by combining lemon juice, water, and some honeysuckle syrup. As an alternative, you could just use some fresh or dried honeysuckle flowers as cocktail garnishes.
The honeysuckle vodka lemonade is one example of a cocktail recipe that incorporates honeysuckles. This cocktail contains vodka, lemon juice, honeysuckle syrup, club soda, and ice. It is sweet and tart. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 2 oz of vodka, 1 oz of lemon juice, and 1 oz of honeysuckle syrup to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into a Collins glass
- Top with club soda and garnish with a honeysuckle flower
Enjoy your honeysuckle vodka lemonade!
Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant, purple flower with a floral and herbal flavor. Teas, oils, bitters, and syrups are frequently made with it. In addition, it contains a lot of essential oils, antioxidants, and vitamin A.
You can make your own lavender syrup at home by simmering some fresh or dried lavender flowers with sugar and water to use in cocktails. Additionally, you can create your own lavender bitters by letting some fresh or dried lavender flowers steep for about two weeks in vodka or whiskey. As an alternative, you could simply use some fresh or dried lavender flowers as cocktail garnishes.
The lavender martini is one instance of a drink recipe that incorporates lavender. This drink, which blends vodka, lemon juice, lavender syrup, and ice, is smooth and sophisticated. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 2 oz of vodka, 1 oz of lemon juice, and 1/2 oz of lavender syrup to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass
- Garnish with a lavender flower
Enjoy your lavender martini!
Pansies
Pansies are tiny, jovial flowers with a mild, grassy flavor. They are available in a number of hues, including purple, blue, yellow, white, and orange. Salads, sweets, and candied flowers all frequently contain pansies. Additionally, they contain a lot of vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory substances.
You may make your own candied pansies to use in cocktails by coating some fresh or dried pansy blossoms with egg white and sugar, letting them dry, and then using them as garnish. You can also make your own pansy mimosa by adding some candied pansies to a mixture of champagne or sparkling wine, orange juice, and other ingredients. As an alternative, you could just use some fresh or dried pansy flowers as cocktail garnishes.
The pansy mimosa is one cocktail recipe that incorporates pansies. This festive and bubbly drink combines champagne or sparkling wine, orange juice, ice, and candied pansies. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a champagne flute with ice
- Add 4 oz of champagne or sparkling wine and 2 oz of orange juice to the flute
- Stir gently and garnish with a candied pansy
Enjoy your pansy mimosa!
Marigolds
Marigolds are bright, sunny flowers with a spicy, citrusy flavor. They are typically orange, yellow, or red in hue. Marigolds are frequently used in infusions, margaritas, and garnishes. They also contain a lot of vitamin A, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
You can make your own marigold infusion for cocktails by steeping some fresh or dried marigold petals in vodka or tequila for about a week. Make your own marigold margarita by combining marigold infusion, lime juice, orange liqueur, and ice. Alternatively, you can simply garnish your cocktails with fresh or dried marigold petals.
The marigold margarita is one drink recipe that incorporates marigolds. A spicy and zesty cocktail made with marigold-infused tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, ice, and salt. To make it, you need to:
- Rim a rocks glass with salt
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 2 oz of marigold-infused tequila, 1 oz of lime juice, and 1/2 oz of orange liqueur to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into the rocks glass
- Garnish with a marigold petal
Enjoy your marigold margarita!
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are huge, bright blossoms with a nutty, earthy flavor. They are most commonly yellow, although they can also be orange, red, or brown. Sunflowers are frequently used in the preparation of sunflower seed milk, sunflower honey syrup, and garnishes. They are also high in vitamin E, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.
You may produce your own sunflower seed milk to use in cocktails by mixing some soaked sunflower seeds with water and straining the liquid. You may also prepare your own sunflower honey syrup by heating some sunflower honey in a saucepan with some water. Alternatively, you may just garnish your cocktails with fresh or dried sunflower petals or seeds.
The sunflower seed milk punch is one example of a drink recipe that incorporates sunflowers. This cocktail is smooth and nutty, made with sunflower seed milk, whiskey, vanilla essence, ice, and nutmeg. To make it, you need to:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 4 oz of sunflower seed milk, 2 oz of bourbon, and 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into a rocks glass
- Sprinkle some nutmeg on top and garnish with a sunflower petal or seed
Enjoy your sunflower seed milk punch!
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms are delicate, aromatic blooms with a flowery, fruity flavor. They are often pink or white. Cherry blossoms are frequently used to produce cherry blossom vinegar, liqueur, and garnishes. They also include a lot of vitamin C, antioxidants, and essential oils.
You may manufacture your own cherry blossom vinegar by soaking some fresh or dried cherry blossom petals in white vinegar for approximately a month to use in cocktails. Make your own cherry blossom liqueur by soaking fresh or dried cherry blossom petals in vodka or gin for a week. Alternatively, you may just garnish your cocktails with fresh or dried cherry blossom petals.
The cherry blossom martini is one drink recipe that incorporates cherry flowers. This drink is smooth and beautiful, made with cherry blossom liqueur, vodka, lemon juice, ice, and sugar. To make it, you need to:
- Rim a chilled martini glass with sugar
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add 2 oz of cherry blossom liqueur, 1 oz of vodka, and 1/2 oz of lemon juice to the shaker
- Shake well and strain into the martini glass
- Garnish with a cherry blossom petal
Enjoy your cherry blossom martini!
Conclusion
Edible flowers are not only beautiful but also tasty additions to your cocktails. They can enhance the flavor, aroma, color, and nutrition of your cocktails. They can also dazzle your guests with their elegance, whimsy, and creativity.
We’ve shown you how to use 10 edible flowers in cocktails, as well as some cocktail recipes that use them. These are hibiscus, peonies, roses, violas, honeysuckles, lavender, pansies, marigolds, sunflowers, and cherry blossoms. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new.
We encourage you to try some of the recipes we’ve shared or to experiment with your own creations. You can also look into other edible flowers that we haven’t mentioned yet. The options are limitless!
Please leave a comment below if you have any feedback or questions. We would be delighted to hear from you!
FAQs
- • Q: What are some pointers for selecting and storing edible flowers?
- • A: Choose flowers that are fresh, organic, and free of pesticides. Flowers from florists or grocery stores should be avoided unless they are labeled as edible. Refrigerate them in a sealed container and use them within a few days.
- • Q: Can I make edible flower syrups, infusions, or liqueurs on my own?
- A: To make a simple syrup, bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan. Cook for about 15 minutes after adding some edible flowers of your choice. Allow to cool before using or storing in a glass bottle in the fridge. Steep some edible flowers in hot water for about 10 minutes to make an infusion. Strain and serve as tea or as a base for cocktails. Soak some edible flowers in a high-proof alcohol, such as vodka or gin, for about a week to make a liqueur. Before using or storing in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place, strain and add some simple syrup to taste.
- Q: Aside from cocktails, what are some other ways to use edible flowers?
- A: Edible flowers can also be used to improve the flavor and appearance of salads, desserts, cakes, ice creams, jams, vinegars, cheeses, and other dishes. They can also be dried and used as tea leaves or potpourri.
- Q : Are there any hazards or negative effects associated with eating edible flowers?
- A: While edible flowers are mostly safe to consume, some people may react negatively or sensitively to particular blooms. Before consuming any edible flowers, check with your doctor if you’re expecting, nursing, or have a medical condition. Additionally, stay away from consuming flowers whose safety you are unsure of or who might have been exposed to pesticides or pollution.
- Q : Where can I find more details and ideas regarding cocktails with edible flowers?
- A: lot of publications, websites, blogs, and social media pages discuss edible flowers and drinks. The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart, The Art of Edible Flowers by Rebecca Sullivan, Moody Mixologist, Aleka’s Get Together, and Flowers You Can Eat are a few of the ones we suggest.
Check out this related article:
- 8 Best Edible Flowers for Cocktails and Where to Find Them
- 9 Amazing Health Benefits of Edible Flowers for Cocktails
- 3 Simple Ways to Preserve and Store Edible Flowers for Cocktails
- 6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Edible Flowers for Cocktails
- How to Make 5 Delicious Cocktails with Edible Flowers
