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Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds
on the heel that has crushed it. -- Mark Twain
The fragrance of violets is heavenly, and often it evokes fond memories. Since Victorian times, the tradition of violet tea has held an allure for those who like the finer things in life. It is a quintessential tea for afternoon tea parties and will bring out the essence of days gone by for everyone. If you love the fragrance of violet, the aroma will delight you as it fills your home upon making a cup or more of violet tea.
Steps
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1Select violets. If you grow your own, pick the violets after the dew has dried but before the sun's heat has had a chance to dry the essential oil of the violets (try mid-morning).
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2Clean violets gently. Shake off any dirt and insects. Place in a colander or tea strainer and gently wash the violets to remove any traces of dirt etc. Use absorbent paper to dry the violets after washing.Advertisement
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3Choose whether you wish to make fresh violet tea immediately, or whether you want to make dried violet tea for later. Or maybe both! The flavor will be stronger in the dried version.
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4Make Fresh Violet Tea:
- Steep fresh violets directly to make tea. Add 2-3 teaspoons fresh violet flowers to 1 cup of boiling water. If making a teapot, add as many flowers as cups to be made. Allow to steep for five minutes, strain and serve.
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5Make Dried Violet Tea:
- Dry the flowers. Allow the flowers to dry for at least one week. See the wikiHow on how to dry herbs for the method to dry flowers. If you do not have access to your own violets, purchase dried, organic and unsprayed violets from a reputable store (such as a health food store).
- Store dried violet flowers in an opaque, airtight container.
- Make tea from the dried flowers. Add 1-2 teaspoons dried violets per cup of boiling water.
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6Garnish. In both recipes, garnish the tea with fresh violets for an extra special touch (as in photo below).
Community Q&A
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QuestionAre violet stems edible?
Community AnswerNo, but there are edible parts: violet flowers and leaves are edible, with the leaves having a high level of vitamins A and C. They can be used in salads or cooked as greens. The flowers can be made into jellies, candied, or tossed into a salad. -
QuestionDoe sweet violet come in a form of tablets or tea?
Community AnswerSweet violet comes in both forms, it's all about what you prefer! If you'd prefer to drink it, tea. If you don't, then use the tablets. -
QuestionWhat about the wild violets that populate my garden? Can they be used as well?
Poetic&MusicalCommunity AnswerMost likely. But make sure they're violets first! The result could be fatal, if they ended up being a similar appearing flower, but poisonous.
Warnings
- Do not use violets that have been sprayed with chemical pesticides. If you do not know, do not use them.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- If you are using wild violets, make sure your dog doesn't like to pee in that area!⧼thumbs_response⧽
