Produce Briefs...
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime, scientific name, X Citrofortunella mitis & Citrus microcarpa, is also known as the lime orange, Chinese orange or Calamondin orange.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Pinkglow™ Pineapple
Pinkglow™ pineapples are small to medium fruits with an oval to cylindrical shape.
Viola Flowers
Inventory, 50 ct : 18.00
This item was last sold on : 06/26/22
Description/Taste
Violas are small flowers that vary in color and shape, depending on the specific variety. Each flower consists of thin, delicate, and flat, curved petals with a soft, smooth, and silky consistency. The petals also differ in colors, some with solid hues of bright yellow, orange, royal purple, or maroon, while others display showy combinations of purple, white, and yellow with dark violet splashes of accent coloring and striping. Violas are unique as the entire flower is edible, and the blooms contain a crisp, succulent, and tender texture with a faint, perfumed scent. The colorful flowers also bear a subtly sweet, vegetal flavor with light mint and wintergreen nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Violas are available year-round.
Current Facts
Violas are small, edible flowers that are a part of a line of specialty blossoms grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The delicate blooms can be used whole as a garnish and provide dishes with a subtle, sweet and vegetal flavor. Violas have been growing wild since ancient times, but Fresh Origins cultivates, hand selects, and develops a curated mix of colorful blooms to provide chefs with a unique, edible garnish to elevate the dining experience. Violas are considered one of Fresh Origin’s classic and favorite flowers, encasing a rich history while having a beautiful appearance and adapting to modern preparations. The colorful blooms can be incorporated into in-house meals, or they can be packaged as an added surprise in takeout orders to create a memorable dining experience. Violas can also be utilized in mixology to enhance the flavor and texture of beverages.
Nutritional Value
Violas are a source of vitamins A and C, nutrients with antioxidant-like properties to strengthen the immune system, boost collagen production within the skin, and defend the cells against damage inflicted by external environmental aggressors. The flowers also contain anthocyanins, pigments that give the petals their colored appearance and have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to lower blood pressure and protect against disease.
Applications
Violas have a subtle flavor, delicate nature, and light scent that are showcased when added at the end of preparations to avoid wilting. The entire flower can be consumed and is a favored edible garnish, sprinkled over salads, soups, fruit bowls, dips, and soft cheeses, or strategically placed on pasta, seafood, sandwiches, appetizers, and other main dishes for added aesthetic. Violas can also be used to accent desserts such as cakes, scones, sorbets, crème brulee, cookies, puddings, and tarts, or they can be lightly cooked into syrups, jams, and jellies. When used for desserts, some chefs crystallize the flowers with egg whites and sugar to create a glistening, crisp consistency. Beyond culinary preparations, Violas are popular garnishes for cocktails, teas, and iced beverages. The flowers can also be frozen whole in ice cubes as a decorative element in drinks. Violas pair well with chocolate, apricots, mangoes, lemons, coconut, lavender, cinnamon, carrots, mushrooms, radish, asparagus, goat cheese, and meats such as poultry, turkey, and fish. Whole Viola flowers should be used immediately for the best quality and flower and will keep 2 to 6 days when stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Violets, a type of Viola belonging to the Viola genus, were historically the first flower associated with Valentine’s Day. St. Valentine was a priest thrown into prison by Claudius of Rome for marrying couples in secret. At the time, Claudius had outlawed marriage for young men who were eligible and of age to be soldiers. When St. Valentine was caught marrying couples against Claudius’s law, he was sentenced to death. Legend has it that St. Valentine gathered violets growing just outside his prison window and crushed them to create a dark ink. The saint used the ink to write loving letters from prison to encourage his family, friends, and acquaintances. It was also rumored that St. Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and would write her notes signing the letters “From Your Valentine.” St. Valentine was executed on February 14th, in 269 CE, which coincided with a pagan holiday known as Lupercalia, which honored the Roman goddess of love. Over time, as devotees remembered St. Valentine’s death, themes from the pagan holiday began intermixing with St. Valentine’s legend, creating the celebration that is recognized today. For many years, violets remained the primary flower given on Valentine’s Day in honor of St. Valentine, and couples would use St. Valentine’s signature, establishing “valentine” as a name for lovers during the holiday. In the early 1900s, it was very common to receive a box of candies paired with a bouquet of violets, and many receivers appreciated the flower’s heart-shaped appearance, believing it added to the holiday’s romantic spirit.
Geography/History
Violas are native to Europe and have been cultivated for thousands of years. The delicate flowers were widely used for medicinal applications in Ancient Greece, and in the Roman empire, the flowers were frequently made into wine. Violas continued to rise in popularity throughout the Victorian Era, where they were incorporated as edible garnishes, infused into perfumes, and used as a secret symbol to communicate feelings between lovers. Over time, the brightly colored blooms have remained a favorite culinary flower and continue to adapt to modern cooking methods. The Violas featured in the photograph above were cultivated at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens and edible flowers since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins grows over 60 varieties of edible flowers and uses the mild and sunny Southern California climate year-round to produce flavorful, attractive, safe, and quality blooms. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Violas sourced from Fresh Origins can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Now Sushi | San Diego CA | 858-246-6179 |
| Zinque | San Diego CA | 559-281-2485 |
| CaliSpirit Catering | San Diego CA | 619-403-1221 |
| The Tavern | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
| La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
| 619 Spirits | San Diego CA | 619-647-4409 |
| Bang Bang 2021 | San Diego CA | 619-382-8938 |
| The Honeybee Baking | San Diego CA | 619-727-7637 |
| Grass Skirt | San Diego CA | 858-412-5237 |
| Noble Experiment | San Diego CA | 619-446-0002 |
| Huntress | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Nobu | San Diego CA | 619-814-4124 |
| Javier Plascencia | Bonita CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Birds Eye (La Jolla) | La Jolla CA | 513-549-0974 |
| Yoann Taboyan, Personal Chef | San Diego CA | 347-277-1958 |
| Parisien Gourmandises | La Jolla CA | 858-352-6552 |
| Venissimo Cheese Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-847-9616 |
| Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Groundswell Brewing | Chula Vista CA | 619-403-0684 |
| Brockton Villa Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-454-7393 |
| Culinary Concepts | San Diego CA | 858-518-0148 |
| Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
| Chateau Lake San Marcos | San Marcos CA | 760-670-5807 |
| You & Yours Distilling Co. | San Diego CA | 214-693-6619 |
| J & Tonys | San Diego CA | 855-634-7664 |
| The Tavern Bar | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
| Mille Fleurs Bar | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
| Elixir De La Lune | La Jolla CA | 619-985-8979 |
| DS Catering Kitchen | Chula Vista CA | 619-703-9321 |
| SD Continuing Education Culinary Arts | ||
| Fresh Sushi Catering | Carlsbad CA | 858-344-7098 |
| CJs Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-296-2721 |
| Alila Marea Beach Resort (Pastry) | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
| Hotel Del Coronado Bakery | Coronado CA | 619-435-6611 |
| Desserts by Clement | San Diego CA | 619-919-4523 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Juan Tequila | San Diego CA | 520-395-7565 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Blue Ocean La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-999-4073 |
| Setting Sun Sake Brewing Co. | San Diego CA | 760-532-5285 |
| Trilogy Sanctuary | La Jolla CA | 858-633-3893 |
| Hoxton Manor LLC | San Diego CA | 760-586-9533 |
| Craft House Sky Deck | San Diego CA | 619-948-4458 |
| Claytons Bakery & Bistro | Coronado CA | 619-435-5425 |
| Camino Riviera | San Diego CA | 619-685-3881 |
| Temari-Zushi | San Diego CA | 858-345-0059 |
| Harney Sushi Old Town | San Diego CA | 619-295-3272 |
| Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-488-0551 |
| Sugar and Scribe | La Jolla CA | 858-274-1733 |
| Chateau La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-459-4451 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| Wolfies Carousel Bar | San Diego CA | 909-477-1291 |
| Solare Ristorante Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-270-9670 |
| Huntress (Pastry) | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Waverly | Cardiff CA | 619-244-0416 |
| Ron Oliver | San Diego | 619-295-3172 |
| San Diego Cellars 2017 | San Diego CA | 760-207-5324 |
| Frankie's | Oceanside CA | 442-266-2270 |
| Pendry SD (Lion Fish) | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
| Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| Birds Eye - Prep Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-780-0974 |
| Savory Moment 2021 | El Cajon CA | 619-633-8863 |
| Aztec Shop Catering | San Diego CA | 619-594-3576 |
| Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
| Pendry SD (Pool House) | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
| JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
| The Shout House | San Diego CA | 619-231-6700 |
| Mr A's Pastry | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| Estancia Adobe | San Diego CA | 858-550-1000 |
| The Seabird Resort | Oceanside CA | 951-704-9703 |
| Monarch | Del Mar CA | 619-308-6500 |
| French Chef at Home | San Diego CA | 619-432-8051 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Azuki Sushi Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-238-4760 |
| Sushi Nekosan | La Jolla CA | 858-999-0999 |
| Nolita Hall | San Diego CA | 619-618-8820 |
| Camino Riviera Bar | San Diego CA | 619-685-3881 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
| Cucina Urbana (Bar) | San Diego CA | 858-232-7808 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Viola Flowers. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Shared
Someone shared Viola Flowers using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Macknade's Fine Foods
Near Faversham, United KingdomAbout 271 days ago, 9/29/21 |
