Purple Viola Flowers
Estimated Inventory, 50 ct : 1.00
This item was last sold on : 04/09/26
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Purple Viola flowers are small in size, averaging 1 to 5 centimeters in diameter, and are distinguished by their open appearance and uniform nature. Each bloom has around five petals, and it is characteristic of the flowers to have two petals pointing upward, while the remaining three petals point downward. The petals have an oval, broad, curved shape with even edges that taper toward the center of the bloom. Purple Violas can have a flat look, or they can be slightly curled or curved inward. The petals are smooth, soft, and velvety, with a pliable, lightly crisp, succulent consistency. They also bear a faint, dark purple-black veining across the purple petals. The center of the bloom is yellow, with splashes of lighter blue-purple on one side. Purple Viola flowers are known for their delicate, tender appearance, but the blooms are fairly sturdy and can hold up well as garnishes for dishes and various beverages. Purple Viola flowers are edible raw and have a fresh, floral, mild, and subtly tart taste. Some consumers also note a very gentle, light, minty flavor with grassy nuances.
Purple Viola flowers are available year-round.
Purple Viola flowers, botanically a part of the Viola genus, are the colorful blooms of a low-growing, herbaceous plant belonging to the Violaceae family. There are many types of violas in varying shades, and purple varieties are favored for their rich, saturated purple-black hues. Viola flowers have been known throughout history as an ornamental. The blooms were widely sown as landscape plants and valued by growers for their hardiness, high yields, and varied color. Violas were mostly foraged or cultivated for floral arrangements, but they have also been recently produced as an edible ingredient for chefs to use in culinary and mixology applications. Purple Violas are being commercially grown by Fresh Origins in San Diego, California. The naturally nurtured flowers are specifically packaged and marketed for edible use and are celebrated for their elegant nature and versatility, serving as a strategic finishing element for chefs and home cooks. Purple Violas can be placed individually on dishes, separated into petals, or topped in larger groupings for varying levels of impact. Purple Violas are commanding with their uniform shape and saturated coloring, and also offer a contrasting, soft, delicate presence, creating beautifully plated dishes.
Purple Viola flowers have not been studied for their nutritional properties, as they are primarily used as an accent in culinary dishes and drinks. Edible flowers, in general, may contain vitamin A to maintain healthy organs and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. Flowers also provide antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, protect cells against free radical damage, and support overall health. Flowers are sometimes added to topical salves, lotions, and oils to soothe skin irritations. They are also used in tinctures, extracts, and tea for various natural remedies as a calming ingredient.
Purple Viola flowers have a mild, vegetal, and sometimes wintergreen-like taste, suited to both fresh and cooked preparations. The blooms are used whole to capture their natural beauty and are strategically placed on dishes as an edible accent. Purple Viola flowers make a striking decoration for desserts like tarts, cakes, and cookies. They are also gently pressed into homemade butter or soft cheeses to enhance their visual appeal on appetizer platters. Try adding Purple Viola flowers to ice cream or sorbet to create a purple-hued treat or dusting the blooms with a sugar-and-egg wash to candy them. Purple Viola flowers can also be separated into petals for a different aesthetic. The flowers are infused into vinegars for dressings, marinades, and sauces, or they are scattered over seafood dishes, rice and noodle entrees, or other main dishes as an attractive garnish. Beyond culinary preparations, Purple Viola flowers are frozen into ice cubes for festive drinks or floated on sparkling beverages, lemonades, mocktails, and cocktails. Purple Violas pair well with fruits like citrus, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches, as well as with flavorings such as mint, basil, lavender, and rose. Whole Purple Viola flowers should be used immediately for the best quality and flavor. When purchased from Fresh Origins®, it is recommended to store the flowers in their original clamshell in the refrigerator.
The viola genus encompasses more than 550 species of flowering plants, and the term viola can be used for any of these species. Violets are within the viola genus and are often considered a symbol of the cyclical nature of life. In Greek mythology, Persephone was gathering violets when she was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld. Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. When Demeter found her daughter missing, she began searching for Persephone, neglecting her harvest duties. Her absence from the harvest caused crops to wither and the land to die, leading humanity to suffer in a period of barrenness and starvation. Zeus eventually had to intervene after hearing the cries of the starving humans and discovered that lost Persephone had been taken to the underworld. Zeus commanded Hades to release Persephone, and they agreed that she could leave the underworld for two-thirds of the year to be with her mother and walk the Earth. Legend has it that when Persephone returns to Earth, the seasons change from barren winter to life-giving spring, a symbol of Demeter’s happiness upon her daughter's return. Persephone has also become a symbol of life, death, and the cycle of vegetation. Violets symbolize Persephone and mirror her cyclical arrival and departure from Earth. The blooms are one of the first to arrive in the spring and are said to flower when Persephone takes her first steps back on Earth.
Viola flowers belong to a large genus with species native to various regions of temperate climates in the Northern Hemisphere. Viola species are notably found in parts of North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and the flowering plants thrive in shadier areas in woodlands, thickets, fields, and gardens. The species has been growing wild since ancient times and has been selectively bred to produce new species with varying colors, bloom sizes, and tastes. Purple Violas have variable histories, depending on the variety. The blooms featured in the photograph above are cultivated and marketed by Fresh Origins®, the largest grower and supplier of microgreens, edible flowers, and specialty items in the United States. Fresh Origins® was established in 1995 and utilizes its ideal location in the mild Southern California climate to produce robust, healthy, and eye-catching flowers. The seed-to-plate company grows Purple Viola flowers year-round in greenhouses, and the flowers are hand-harvested, packed, and shipped at peak quality to provide chefs and mixologists with a flavorful ingredient. The colored blooms are sold by themselves or seasonally mixed with other types of violas. Fresh Origins® offers viola flowers in a range of colors beyond purple, including shades of blue, orange, yellow, and red. Today, Purple Viola flowers are available through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, as well as in Canada. The flowers, in general, are also present in home gardens, found through select growers, and are foraged from wild populations worldwide.
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Description/Taste
Purple Viola flowers are small in size, averaging 1 to 5 centimeters in diameter, and are distinguished by their open appearance and uniform nature. Each bloom has around five petals, and it is characteristic of the flowers to have two petals pointing upward, while the remaining three petals point downward. The petals have an oval, broad, curved shape with even edges that taper toward the center of the bloom. Purple Violas can have a flat look, or they can be slightly curled or curved inward. The petals are smooth, soft, and velvety, with a pliable, lightly crisp, succulent consistency. They also bear a faint, dark purple-black veining across the purple petals. The center of the bloom is yellow, with splashes of lighter blue-purple on one side. Purple Viola flowers are known for their delicate, tender appearance, but the blooms are fairly sturdy and can hold up well as garnishes for dishes and various beverages. Purple Viola flowers are edible raw and have a fresh, floral, mild, and subtly tart taste. Some consumers also note a very gentle, light, minty flavor with grassy nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Purple Viola flowers are available year-round.
Current Facts
Purple Viola flowers, botanically a part of the Viola genus, are the colorful blooms of a low-growing, herbaceous plant belonging to the Violaceae family. There are many types of violas in varying shades, and purple varieties are favored for their rich, saturated purple-black hues. Viola flowers have been known throughout history as an ornamental. The blooms were widely sown as landscape plants and valued by growers for their hardiness, high yields, and varied color. Violas were mostly foraged or cultivated for floral arrangements, but they have also been recently produced as an edible ingredient for chefs to use in culinary and mixology applications. Purple Violas are being commercially grown by Fresh Origins in San Diego, California. The naturally nurtured flowers are specifically packaged and marketed for edible use and are celebrated for their elegant nature and versatility, serving as a strategic finishing element for chefs and home cooks. Purple Violas can be placed individually on dishes, separated into petals, or topped in larger groupings for varying levels of impact. Purple Violas are commanding with their uniform shape and saturated coloring, and also offer a contrasting, soft, delicate presence, creating beautifully plated dishes.
Nutritional Value
Purple Viola flowers have not been studied for their nutritional properties, as they are primarily used as an accent in culinary dishes and drinks. Edible flowers, in general, may contain vitamin A to maintain healthy organs and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. Flowers also provide antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, protect cells against free radical damage, and support overall health. Flowers are sometimes added to topical salves, lotions, and oils to soothe skin irritations. They are also used in tinctures, extracts, and tea for various natural remedies as a calming ingredient.
Applications
Purple Viola flowers have a mild, vegetal, and sometimes wintergreen-like taste, suited to both fresh and cooked preparations. The blooms are used whole to capture their natural beauty and are strategically placed on dishes as an edible accent. Purple Viola flowers make a striking decoration for desserts like tarts, cakes, and cookies. They are also gently pressed into homemade butter or soft cheeses to enhance their visual appeal on appetizer platters. Try adding Purple Viola flowers to ice cream or sorbet to create a purple-hued treat or dusting the blooms with a sugar-and-egg wash to candy them. Purple Viola flowers can also be separated into petals for a different aesthetic. The flowers are infused into vinegars for dressings, marinades, and sauces, or they are scattered over seafood dishes, rice and noodle entrees, or other main dishes as an attractive garnish. Beyond culinary preparations, Purple Viola flowers are frozen into ice cubes for festive drinks or floated on sparkling beverages, lemonades, mocktails, and cocktails. Purple Violas pair well with fruits like citrus, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches, as well as with flavorings such as mint, basil, lavender, and rose. Whole Purple Viola flowers should be used immediately for the best quality and flavor. When purchased from Fresh Origins®, it is recommended to store the flowers in their original clamshell in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The viola genus encompasses more than 550 species of flowering plants, and the term viola can be used for any of these species. Violets are within the viola genus and are often considered a symbol of the cyclical nature of life. In Greek mythology, Persephone was gathering violets when she was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld. Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. When Demeter found her daughter missing, she began searching for Persephone, neglecting her harvest duties. Her absence from the harvest caused crops to wither and the land to die, leading humanity to suffer in a period of barrenness and starvation. Zeus eventually had to intervene after hearing the cries of the starving humans and discovered that lost Persephone had been taken to the underworld. Zeus commanded Hades to release Persephone, and they agreed that she could leave the underworld for two-thirds of the year to be with her mother and walk the Earth. Legend has it that when Persephone returns to Earth, the seasons change from barren winter to life-giving spring, a symbol of Demeter’s happiness upon her daughter's return. Persephone has also become a symbol of life, death, and the cycle of vegetation. Violets symbolize Persephone and mirror her cyclical arrival and departure from Earth. The blooms are one of the first to arrive in the spring and are said to flower when Persephone takes her first steps back on Earth.
Geography/History
Viola flowers belong to a large genus with species native to various regions of temperate climates in the Northern Hemisphere. Viola species are notably found in parts of North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and the flowering plants thrive in shadier areas in woodlands, thickets, fields, and gardens. The species has been growing wild since ancient times and has been selectively bred to produce new species with varying colors, bloom sizes, and tastes. Purple Violas have variable histories, depending on the variety. The blooms featured in the photograph above are cultivated and marketed by Fresh Origins®, the largest grower and supplier of microgreens, edible flowers, and specialty items in the United States. Fresh Origins® was established in 1995 and utilizes its ideal location in the mild Southern California climate to produce robust, healthy, and eye-catching flowers. The seed-to-plate company grows Purple Viola flowers year-round in greenhouses, and the flowers are hand-harvested, packed, and shipped at peak quality to provide chefs and mixologists with a flavorful ingredient. The colored blooms are sold by themselves or seasonally mixed with other types of violas. Fresh Origins® offers viola flowers in a range of colors beyond purple, including shades of blue, orange, yellow, and red. Today, Purple Viola flowers are available through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, as well as in Canada. The flowers, in general, are also present in home gardens, found through select growers, and are foraged from wild populations worldwide.
Learn More...Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Solare Ristorante Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-270-9670 |
| Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
| Kilowatt Brewing | Oceanside CA | 858-715-3998 |
| Lilo | Carlsbad CA | 619-385-0914 |
| Fish Market Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-232-3474 |
| Busy Bee Cook For Me | San Diego CA | 858-405-5372 |
| Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Azuki Sushi Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-238-4760 |
| LANA | Solana Beach CA | 602-758-2596 |
| Virtue Coffee & Juice | San Diego CA | 619-485-0485 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Jeune Et Jolie | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Claytons Bakery & Bistro | Coronado CA | 619-435-5425 |
| The Beau Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-310-5160 |
| Miguel Angel Mendoza | Maestros Ensenada, | 646-127-0277 |
| Louisiana Purchase (Bar) | San Diego CA | 619-255-8278 |
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| Fish & Things Poke Bar | San Diego CA | 916-995-1555 |
| Pendry SD | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
| US Grant Hotel Grill Bar | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Ju-Ichi | San Diego CA | 619-800-2203 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
