The foodie trend has grown tremendously throughout the United States as more and more people want to try new and different things. They want their food to be exotic, delicious, and beautiful. The explosion of social media has opened the door to everyday people posting photos and reviews of the things they eat. From homemade dishes to expensive restaurants, people feel drawn to sharing what they are eating.
For Americans, this often means trying food and ingredients that have been commonly used in other areas of the world for generations. For example, in many areas of the world plants, flowers, and microgreens have been common ingredients. However, in the United States this is seen as a fairly new phenomenon.
Microgreens are typically rated on a scale ranged from 1 to 5 with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. Microgreens should be rated at a 3 or better to be sold. Although many people have never heard of them, microgreens have been around for almost 30 years.
For those that still don’t know, microgreens are a tiny form of edible green that is produced from a very young vegetable, herb, or plant. Each microgreen includes a stem and leaves, and most range from 1 to 1.5 inches in length.
Microgreens need to be kept refrigerated between 38 and 40 degrees and in a closed container. This will ensure they maintain their scale rating when you are ready to use them. Microgreens are not the only edible plants.
There are approximately 100 types of garden flowers that are edible and palatable. They can be used in dishes ranging from salads to desserts. They add both color and flavor to meals, as well as increase their visual appeal. One study showed that children are more likely to eat if they are presented with 6 food colors and 7 food components. Adding flowers to your child’s diet may actually lead to them eating more and better.
One of the more common flowers that people use in desserts are pansies. Pansies can be crystallized using sugar and served as part of a dessert. A crystallized pansy is beautiful and sweetly delicious. Crystallizing preserves the colors and shape of the flowers making them appear perfectly preserved.
Because they are safe to eat, children can enjoy a crystallized pansy as a sweet treat,opposed to a piece of candy. When exploring different types of edible flowers,it is important to know where and how the flowers were grown. Like other plants, flowers are susceptible to the use of pesticides and other harsh chemicals.
It is best to buy your microgreens and edible flowers from experienced and respectable growers, who know how to grow them best organically to ensure optimal flavor. Too often grocery stores relay on remote growers who offer the cheapest prices and ship plants regardless of quality.
Whether you are interested in trying a crystallized pansy or adding microgreens to your diet, an experienced grower can provide the highest quality plants, as well as insight into cooking and preparation.