The Beauty and Benefits of Violets

In Greek, a violet is io.

In mythology Io was a priestess of Hera at Argos who caught the eye of the passionate and promiscuous Olympian Zeus.

However Zeus was concerned that his wife, Hera, would discover their affaire, so he transformed Io into a stunning white heifer and then created the sweet-scented violet for her to eat.

In Victorian times candied violets were often served as a confection for high tea, and used to garnish cakes, pastries, flans and puddings.

Pick a large number of violet flowers and let them dry on a paper towel for a couple of hours.

Beat an egg white to a froth. You can colour the beaten whites with food colouring if you wish, but I find this a teeny bit difficult without making the whites 'heavy'.

Using a fine brush, carefully coat each flower with the egg white, then pour fine sugar over each. Blend the sugar in your blender to make it a finer consistency if you have to. It must be very fine.

Lay each flower on wax paper to dry, then use as a decoration for your sweets, cakes and desserts when the flowers are stiff enough to move.

From Wild Man Steve Brill in Shoots and greens of early spring in Eastern North America

Sherbets usually contain water, sugar, and artificial flavors. This one, using natural thickeners and sweeteners, provides an especially rich setting for these luxuriant flowers.

4 cups water
1/4 cup grape seed or canola oil
1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup lecithin granules (available at health food stores
2 tbs flax seeds
2 tsp liquid stevia or other sweetener
2 tsp freshly grated orange rind
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups violet flowers

Purée all ingredients except the violets in a blender. Freeze in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir in the violet flowers. Makes 5-1/2 cups.

Napoleon Bonaparte was partial to violets. He spoke of their 'quiet beauty' and liked to have small pots of them in his rooms.

When he married Josephine Beauharnais, she wore violets on her dress and in her hair, and on every wedding anniversary he sent her a violet bouquet.

In 1814, before leaving for his exile in St. Helena, Napoleon asked to visit Josephine's tomb to pick the violets which were growing there. Petals from these violets were still in a locket around his neck when he died.

2 tsp. candied violets
2 tsp. candied orange peel
2 cups unsweetened whipped cream
2 baskets strawberries
4 fresh violet blossoms

With a very sharp knife, chop the violets and the orange peel separately. Place the whipped cream in a bowl. Gently fold in the violets and the peel without deflating the cream.

Divide the berries into four decorative dessert cups. Top with the flavored whipped cream, and serve, garnished with a fresh violet blossom on each dessert.

London based Basia Zarzycka makes one-of-a-kind designs for a clientele ranging from Royalty to Rock Stars.

These beautiful shoes, embroidered with violets and seed pearls, are a magnificent example of her work. If you're anything like me you can sit and swoon at her beautiful things and, when you realise the price, swoon again.

Sweet violets are the only medicinal violets.

They have both expectorant and diuretic properties and can be taken in a tea for coughs, colds, and rheumatism. Make a pot of violet tea to use as a gargle, or add honey to thicken the tea.

In Pakistan, violet tea is drunk to increase sweating and reduce fever. It's also said that violets relieve anxiety, insomnia and reduce high blood pressure. In the 17th century throat lozenges, made with violet conserve, were used to treat bronchitis, as well as to combat sinus congestion.

Violets are reputed to reduce the symptoms of a hangover. Combining wine and violets dates back to the ancient Greeks, who would not only put the petals in the wine, but would scatter them all about the banquet hall. They wore garlands of violets in the belief that this would help to prevent dizziness and headaches from overindulging.

For a stiff neck
Pound violet leaves into a paste, add water and a little oatmeal till thick, then apply to a warm compress and place on the back of the neck.

The essential oil of violets is also used in aromatherapy.

1 cup boiling water
1/2 tsp dried or 1 tsp fresh violet leaves
1/2 tsp dried or 1 tsp violet petals

Put violet leaves and petals in a pot, pour over boiling water and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink.

Be careful when you eat violets!

Only eat edible sweet violets that you have grown yourself - then you know they haven't been treated with insecticides.