We all enjoy the beauty of flowers. Many of us bring fresh blossoms to our homes for their striking colours and sweet fragrance. Not only that, these beautiful petals have found its way on decorative headpieces, paintings and murals, and even on our food.

High-brow restaurants have long used flowers to garnish our extravagant meals. We've seen naked cakes adorned with fresh flowers on a whimsical spring wedding.

But the question still remains, are these flowers on our plates purely aesthetics? Are they all style but no taste? Today we explore how you can level-up your dishes with gorgeous and healthy flora.

Why use edible flowers?

For anyone who has created fake flowers out of paper or icing, you might ask, why use flowers? Well, not only can they lif the look of even the most simple dishes, but they are also quite flavourful.

They add a hint of sweetness to savoury dishes, they add a little bite, and then some bitterness to other meals. They aren't just garnishes but can also be core ingredients. Think rose ice cream.

And as wellness enthusiasts here in BWG botanicals, we all know how flowers are packed full of antioxidants and health benefits. Think hibiscus and chamomile.

But first, safety.

According to Plants Spark Joy, there are must be safety precautions made before eating flowers. We don't just go chewing our florist's bouquet. According to the plant-guide blog, these are things to remember:

·     Don't rely on common sense to determine whether a flower is edible or not. Purchase a reference book that has credible research.

·     Don't eat flowers that were not grown by you. Or by someone you are sure only uses organic products. Flowers from shops or nurseries are often grown for display and not for cooking. Chances are, they've used chemicals and pesticides on the flowers.

·     Don't pick flowers from public parks or roads. Besides the risk that they may have been treated, they are often exposed to dirt and car exhaust. Flowers from hiking or nature trips may be eaten, with all other factors of safety in mind.

·     Don't eat the pistils and stamens. Petals are the edible parts of most flowers. There are other plants, though, that can be consumed and cooked in different ways.

·     Don't forget your allergies! Always be mindful of your health. You can still eat flowers, but you will have to introduce this into your diet gradually.

You can also go ahead and read the rest of their blog to find 7 edible flowers and what you can do with them to elevate your sweet and savoury meals.

Once you've determined the edible flowers, try these ten ways you can add them to your culinary palate.

1.    Salads. This is a no-brainer. Toss them with the rest of your greens and enjoy the pop of colours.

2.    Fried flowers. Zucchini blossoms with cheese? Yes, please!

3.    Tea. Rosehips, lavender, hibiscus. You know the drill.

4.    Ice. This is a brilliant idea you shouldn't limit to just flowers. Try freezing up mint, hibiscus or lavender. Your mojitos and iced teas will thank you.

Try them out and create your own floral dish.