Sweet Violet Shrub Recipe
When sweet violets (Viola odorata and Viola spp.) begin popping their sweet little heads up in late winter (I usually start seeing them in February here), we know warmer days are well on their way. After a gray and dreary winter, their pretty purple faces are welcome reminders that spring and color are coming and it is almost time to get to work in the garden.
One of my favorite things to do with the first batch of sweet violets is to infuse the flowers in vinegar, then use the vinegar to make a shrub. Around here, we like to use vinegar shrubs in homemade salad dressings, ginger ale, and homemade popsicles when the days start to warm up.
To make your own, you will need:
fresh sweet violet flowers
organic blueberries
Raw apple cider vinegar
Raw honey
Gather your sweet violet flowers and place them in a mason jar along with your blueberries. Pour your raw apple cider vinegar over the berries and flowers until they are covered, with a bit extra vinegar for good measure. Stick the jar in the fridge and allow the flowers and berries to macerate in the vinegar for 1-2 weeks (up to 4 weeks if you want a stronger flavor). Then strain the plant material out of the vinegar and stir in some raw honey to taste. Some people like to add equal parts honey to vinegar, while others prefer to leave their shrubs less sweet. Taste as you add until it seems just right to you.
You can also use Viola tricolor (heartsease) for this recipe if you do not have sweet violets growing near you. African violets will not work. Do not use them for this recipe. Both Viola tricolor and Viola odorata are easy to grow, so I would recommend sowing a few packets of seed throughout your garden (or your lawn!) if you can.
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
