What Are Lotus Flowers?
For many cultures, lotus flowers are associated with rebirth. That’s one of the reasons why they’re a perfect ingredient to welcome spring! Often confused with water lily blossoms, lotus flowers are aquatic flowers that rise above the surface of the water and have rounded petals. There are two known species: one native to the US and another native to Southeast Asia. The American yellow lotus grows naturally in ponds and lakes as far north as Ontario and as far south as Texas and Florida, in Zones 4-11 (Do you know your Growing Zone?).
You may have seen lotus flowers before, but chances are you haven’t eaten them, right? Surprisingly, lotus is often used in pastries. It tastes starchy, almost like a potato, but sweeter and crispier. It has great health benefits too. It’s known for decreasing swelling, breaking down fat, and even killing cancer cells!
However, we do not advise that you forage for lotuses randomly. It is important to know the details of the environment and to be sure that you have identified a flower correctly before consuming it. If you don’t have lotuses on hand, don’t worry. You can make the cookies without it. You may also purchase dried lotus flowers online. Lauren buys organic blue lotus tea for her cookies.
What Kind Of Lavender Can You Eat?
Most people assume that all lavender is safe to eat, but not all lavender is culinary. Some store-bought lavender has too much camphor in it, which could be toxic. Instead, look for “Rosea” English lavender, “White Ice,” or “Lavandin” hybrid English lavenders.
Lavender is a great ingredient for cookies because it cuts through and lifts overall flavor in rich foods. If you are familiar with herbes de Provence, you may have experienced its uniqueness before. It tastes floral with a hint of mint and rosemary. As a medicinal herb, lavender is perhaps best known as a calming sleep aid. But edible lavender also has other important healing properties. It helps reduce anxiety, depression, and fatigue. It also improves skin health.
Who would have known that eating flower cookies could be so good for you?
We hope that you experiment with Must Love Herbs‘ cookie recipe below and learn new things along the way! When you’re ready for more recipes, follow Lauren on Instagram @MustLoveHerbs and see what else she has cooking.
