Introduction to edible flowers

Just imagine little pansy flowers on a pastry, flower petals in a homemade focaccia and nasturtium in a lovely summer salad... Your eyes light up, and your stomach may protest. Well, that's normal! Because we also eat with our eyes, edible flowers are the perfect finishing touch to any recipe.

They'll make your next dish so appealing, both to the taste buds and to the eyes.  

Where to buy edible flowers?  

At your local florist!  Edible flowers can be found at many of Montreal's public market vendors, some of whom are specialists in this crop and can help you choose the perfect variety for your needs.  

At Jean-Talon Market, Binette & Filles even lets you plant edible flower seeds in large quantities, thanks to a mix of 17 flowers adapted to our territory. The Lacroix family also offers nasturtiums, begonias and pansies, perfect for putting the finishing touches to your salads. 

At Atwater Market, you can visit most of the horticultural producers to find their edible flowers.

Growing edible flowers at home 

It's also possible to grow your own edible flowers. The various horticultural producers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about choosing the most appropriate varieties for your space, whether on a balcony or in the ground.  

Discover the pastry chefs' favourite edible flowers!  

In 2024, the Jean-Talon Market Marché welcomed 9 Montreal pastry chefs for a unique gastronomic event: the Grand Brunch des Pâtissiers. A 6-course menu featuring flowers and edible plants such as dandelion, lemon balm, rose and elderflower. For these pastry chefs, flowers are much more than a simple ingredient, they elevate pastries in flavor and add a refined touch.  

Here are the flowers they prefer to use:  

• ilac holds a special place in the hearts of the Nanana team. For them, this flower evokes memories of childhood. Dessert is often linked to our early years, so for these creative pastry chefs, there's no better tool than lilac to take us back to those years of freedom and innocence.
• Tagette, geranium and elderflower: Christian Campos of Farine et Cacao can't bring himself to choose just one flower, so he opts for an unbeatable trio. Tagetes, also known as marigolds, add a delicate touch, while geranium, with its aromas of rose, lemon and hazelnut, adds a touch of freshness.  
• Borage: For Zébulon of the Zébulon patisserie, there's no flower that rivals borage. It's true, it's so cute! As well as being aesthetically pleasing and delicious with its cucumber-like taste, borage is also an excellent honey flower for pollinators.
• Oxalis and nasturtium: The Ratafia team can't overlook oxalis and nasturtium. And the good news is that both are relatively easy to grow! Nasturtium, with its orange flowers, will bloom all summer long and can enhance your dishes with its slightly spicy flavor, similar to that of watercress.  
• Melilot: For Natacha Lehmann of Pâtisserie Clémentine and Aurélien Kerzerho of Pâtisserie Mélilot, melilot is the clear winner! According to them, the aroma of this wild flower blends with a multitude of flavors, especially those of fruit. Perhaps this is due to its characteristic vanilla aroma. Natacha points out that the taste is a little reminiscent of tonka bean.  

Les Marchés publics de Montréal hopes you enjoy exploring the world of edible flowers. Whether you're browsing the stalls of our merchants to discover the different varieties.