Caloric content and chemical composition of carnation flowers. Useful properties, harm and contraindications to the use of the product. How is it eaten? Recipes for food and drinks, interesting facts.
Contraindications and harm of carnation flowers
Like any product, this one can not only heal, but also cause unpleasant reactions. Carnation flowers can bring harm to everyone, if you overdo it with their use. If you approach the issue of using a plant in cooking reasonably, then there is nothing to fear.
The product should be used with caution by the following categories of people:
- Allergy sufferers … Due to the possibility of allergic reactions.
- Pregnant and lactating mothers … Due to the likelihood of an exacerbation of chronic diseases and the occurrence of allergic reactions in a child.
- For children … Due to the lack of knowledge of the effect of the product on the forming organism.
As you can see, there are no specific disease risk groups.
How are carnation flowers eaten?
First of all, it is worth noting that only those flowers are used for food, the origin of which you are sure of. In cooking, specimens are used that are grown specifically for these purposes.
Of course, the use of plants growing on roads, highways, highways is not allowed. The use of wild-growing varieties is undesirable, since they can be cross-pollinated with nearby poisonous plants, of which you may not even be aware of this specificity. You need to be careful with garden flowers, because even if you do not use pesticides and do not spray your plants, neighbors can do it. And even the slightest wind in your direction will already make the flowers inedible.
Therefore, give preference to specially grown for culinary purposes shoots. Of course, the cost of such flowers is much more than decorative ones, and they will cost you much more than when growing on your own, but you will be firmly sure that they will not harm your health. When decorating dishes with this product, you can use whole flowers. But it is recommended to use only petals directly in the dishes themselves, without stamens and pistils.
It is better to buy them on the day they are served. If you purchased them in advance, wrap them in a damp paper towel or cheesecloth, transfer them to a plastic container and send them to the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. In this form, the flowers will last a little more than a week. Also, culinary experts note that rinsing them in ice water will help restore freshness to flowers.
This product is most commonly used raw. They are used to decorate dishes, add to salads. But spicy petals feel great in desserts, drinks, side dishes, sauces, and first courses. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most popular recipes with carnation flowers and appreciate the dishes and drinks with them.
Carnation Recipes
Talking about edible flowers, we have already given a recipe for candied flower stalks several times. We think it will not be superfluous to remind it again, because this is the most popular way to use this product. We also note other recipes with carnation flowers, the main components of which are petals and sugar, since this is a classic combination:
- Glazed flowers … Whisk the egg white into a coarse foam. Rinse and dry the clove flowers with paper towels. Dip them in protein and then sprinkle with powdered sugar on all sides. Be sure to blow off the rest of the powder. Line a baking sheet with parchment and place the sugar flowers on top of it so that they do not touch each other. Place the baking sheet in the oven on low heat with the door ajar or turn on the fan. Dry the flowers for 5-7 hours. Then let them cool completely and place in dry, airtight glass jars.
- Flower sugar … To make this flavorful vitamin supplement for tea and baked goods, mix 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of chopped petals. Grind the ingredients a little and leave them for 7-10 days. The petals will give the sugar juice and flavor, resulting in a delicious product.
- Flower syrup … Take 2 cups of clove flowers and cover them with 3 cups of sugar. Leave this mixture overnight, for about 10-12 hours. Then add 1 glass of water, bring to a boil over low heat. Cook without adding heat for 7-10 minutes. Take away for an hour. Boil again for 5-10 minutes, strain. Store in the refrigerator.
- Floral lemon syrup … Take three glasses of flowers and fill them with one liter of cold water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let it brew for 2 days. Strain the infusion, squeeze out the petals and remove them. Add 1 kg of sugar, cook for 30-40 minutes. Add the juice of 1 lemon, cook for another 7-10 minutes. Cool the syrup, send to the refrigerator. It is a great addition to cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, pastries, pancakes and other sweet dishes. It will not be superfluous to add here a little cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, ginger root - any spices to taste.
- Marmalade … To prepare delicious marmalade, you need to take 1 cup of clove petals and pour 100 g of sugar into it. Then add 100 ml of water and simmer for 5-7 minutes. To the resulting syrup you need to add 1 teaspoon of agar-agar. Strain, squeeze, pour the syrup into the molds and put to cool, but not in the freezer. After 2-3 hours you can enjoy delicious natural marmalade.
Carnation flower drink recipes
The main drink that is prepared with this product is tea. However, its healing effect depends on how many flowers to put and how long to insist on them. If you just want to enjoy the taste, add a pinch of flowers when brewing black large leaf tea, sweeten with sugar or honey and drink. If you want to get more than just gastronomic pleasure, check out the recipes below.
We will consider the methods of brewing tea for health purposes in the form of a table.
| Disease | Number of flowers | Amount of liquid | Cooking time | Dosage |
| Gynecology | 1 tbsp | 200 ml, water | 12 hours | 1 tablespoon, 3 times a day, 20-30 minutes after meals |
| Heart | 1 tbsp | 200 ml, water | 1 hour | 1 tablespoon, 3 times a day, 20-30 minutes before meals |
| Stomach | 1 tsp | 600 ml, water | 40 minutes | 200 ml, 3 times a day, 30 minutes before meals |
| Throat | 1 tbsp | 200 ml milk | 10 minutes | 200 ml, 3 times a day, between meals |
Infusions for the treatment of gynecological and heart diseases are added to weak black or green tea. You can also add a little sugar, honey or stevia extract to this for sweetness. You can also sweeten the last two drinks - for the treatment of stomach ailments and sore throats.
You can also prepare the following drinks with cloves:
- Lemonade … Boil 1.5 liters of water and 1 cup of sugar. Boil for 1-2 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat, add 1.5 cups of concentrated lemon juice and 5 stalks of mint. When the drink has cooled to room temperature, add 3 tablespoons of clove petals. Let it brew overnight. Strain and cut into 2 lemons before serving, add ice.
- Champagne … Pour 2 tablespoons of chopped clove petals in 200 ml of water, almost brought to a boil. Let cool, strain. Add 750 ml of semi-sweet chilled champagne to the infusion. Serve over ice.
- Smoothie … To prepare a tasty and healthy energy drink, grind 2 tablespoons of raspberries, currants, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, blueberries in a blender - any berries, the total amount of which is a glass. The more types of berries, the richer the taste and healthier the smoothie. At the very end, add 1 tablespoon of clove petals. If the berries are sour, use honey, but not sugar, it will reduce the benefits.
Interesting facts about carnation flowers
The carnation has been known since time immemorial. Even in ancient Greece, they admired her beauty. And Theophrastus called her "the flower of Zeus."
Many legends, myths and beliefs are associated with this flower. Almost all of them are sad - sometimes associated with the pestilence, then with the fury of the gods, then with such a terrible disease as the plague. It is not surprising that large-flowered varieties are often considered mourning, especially at the mention of men.
In the Soviet Union, the flower gained particular popularity, as it became a symbol of the Great October Revolution. In Russia, it bears the role of a symbol of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. For edible carnation flowers - herbaceous, Turkish and Chinese - the attitude is softer. They are very much loved and respected by gardeners for their unpretentiousness, good germination and cheerful appearance. The color variety of species is also impressive. For cooking, bright varieties are more often used, and pale ones for decoration. Which one to give preference is up to you, but you must try both of them.
