After a few folks told me they made jelly with wild violets-I had to give it a try.
So the other evening, me and this character headed for Granny’s Violet Vale. In only took us a few minutes to pick 2 cups of violet blooms-that’s how much it takes to make jelly.
Rinse off the blooms-then place them in a glass bowl-and pour 2 cups of boiling water over them. I looked at several recipes-they all varied about how long to steep the blooms. I went for the longest time. I covered the bowl with a plate and let it sit on the counter until the following day-when I planned to make jelly.
But as often happens in life-something came up. So I drained the blooms (discarding them) and put the purplish liquid into the fridge until today.
To make violet jelly you need:
- 2 cups of violet flower juice
- juice of 1 lemon
- a box of pectin
- 4 cups of sugar
- jelly jars, lids, and rings (you need to sterilize all-and keep the jars hot-I used a pot of simmering water)
~first-pour the violet juice, pectin, and lemon juice into a fairly large sauce pan (when you mix the lemon juice with the purple violet juice-it immediately turns pink-might make a neat science project for school)
~heat the mixture until it boils-then add 4 cups of sugar
~while stirring-bring the mixture back to a hard boil-one that doesn’t stop even though you’re stirring it
~boil for one minute
~ladle hot jelly into hot jars
~attach lids and rings
~turn jars upside down for 5 minutes-then turn right side up-the jars will seal as they cool-you can hear the ‘pop’ of each jar sealing
~if you feel more comfortable using a hot water bath to seal the jelly-place the jars in a hot water bath for 10 minutes
The recipe above made 4 small jars of violet jelly.
I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. I didn’t think the the jelly would have much of a flavor other than being sweet. I was wrong, violet jelly does have a distinct flavor. I’ve been thinking of how to describe the taste-what have I come up with? Not much. It’s kind of a herbal sweet taste-sorta like lavender but not quite. In the end I decided it must taste exactly like violet jelly-which makes sense don’t you think?
Tipper
31 Comments
Tipper
April 5, 2017 at 4:32 pmMaggie-I didnt pack the blooms tightly-but I did push them down slightly. If you try the violet jelly I sure hope you like it : ) Thank you for the great comments!!
Maggie Roberts
April 3, 2017 at 10:00 pmI’m going to try this. Do you pack the blooms in or just fill up the cup?
Tigoni
February 7, 2016 at 9:44 pmOmg I SO want some…
Tiger
June 24, 2012 at 2:05 pmyou can do this with kudzu blossoms too. Nice to have something good to do with kudzu (makes nice baskets too) The kudzu jelly ends up tasting like a very light grape jelly.
Sandra Sarafian
February 25, 2011 at 4:59 pmI love your posts, but they make me so homesick for Appalachia! Thank you so much!
PS- could you post something about Melungeons?
Rosemary Giordano
July 8, 2010 at 3:57 pmThis is something I used to make as a child! I haven’t though about this in YEARS! YUM!!!!!
trisha too
May 3, 2010 at 7:03 pmDoes it taste like violets smell?
if that makes sense!
Dana
May 2, 2010 at 8:16 pmWow!! Never heard of it!
Becky
April 26, 2010 at 5:05 pmThat is very interesting, Tipper. I’ve never heard of violet jelly anywhere but here. But I will be on the lookout for a violet patch from now on.
Boracay beach hotel
April 26, 2010 at 4:39 amThis is brilliant. Two thumbs up for you!
Miss Cindy
April 25, 2010 at 9:52 amWow, what a neat thing to do. Who’d of thought you could make jelly from flowers. Pretty color too, looks a little like crab apple jelly.
And yes, anything goes good with peanut butter.
Fishing Guy
April 24, 2010 at 10:18 amTipper: That is really neat and it taste like violets.
Jane
April 23, 2010 at 7:50 pmThis was such a unique idea – I never heard of violet jelly. Right now they are in abundance in my yard and I had all the ingredients so tried it…I agree with your comments on taste. It is a most beautiful color and tastes good. Doubt it will take the place of strawberry in this house but it is good. Thanks for posting the idea.
Janet
April 22, 2010 at 10:52 pmWell, I’ve never heard of this. Too bad the jelly didn’t stay purple. That is really neat, I might try it some day.
Paul
April 22, 2010 at 10:40 pmI wonder if it can be made from other flowers as well. It makes me think of my Grandmas corn cob jelly. (I will have to send you that one) Thanks for another interesting post.
Tipper
April 22, 2010 at 6:58 pmGlenda-yes I do think it would be good with peanut butter!
Blind Pig The Acorn
Music, Giveaways, Mountain Folk
All at http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
warren
April 22, 2010 at 4:25 pmThat’s so cool! I am totally stealing that post idea!
glenda
April 21, 2010 at 10:48 pmI loved this, Tipper. I enjoyed learning about violet jelly. Bring me a taste when you come over if there is any left.
Do you think it is good on a peanut butter sandwich?
Jen
April 21, 2010 at 10:13 pmI had hoped to try this recipe
http://jimlongsgarden.blogspot.com/2010/04/some-of-you-dear-friends-will-laugh-at.html
I did not have time to pick violets & when I did get to it there weren’t many left. I ended up letting a friend take them so she could make the jam with her 7 yr old. Maybe next year!
My friend says the jam is great & she does plan to share with me.
Vicki Lane
April 21, 2010 at 10:01 pmWill have to try this — I hadn’t expected there to be much taste.
B. Ruth
April 21, 2010 at 9:41 pmWonderful pictures of the process of violet jelly making….
Our violets are about gone for the year….
I would have loved to make violet jelly..not enough time this year..I have enjoyed the posts about violets and their uses…
I wonder if the different color of violets (yellow or white for instance) would issue a different
flavor of jelly…
Farmchick
April 21, 2010 at 8:46 pmI have never heard of violet jelly. Interesting!! I do love the color and kind of a smallish batch….good for me to try.
Lanny
April 21, 2010 at 7:59 pmI was a little disappointed for the color change, I liked the violet color. All pretty interesting and worth a violet vale.
Patty Hall
April 21, 2010 at 7:26 pmNever tried violet jelly.
Interesting.
Thanks
lynn
April 21, 2010 at 7:24 pmim so glad that you were able to make the jam.. isnt it gorgeous? i just love how it looked in the jars. and as you said the taste is very delicate… 🙂
thanks so much for sharing your experience..
big ladybug hugs
lynn
Tipper
April 21, 2010 at 7:16 pmLauren-it was good-and yes you should try it : )
Blind Pig The Acorn
Music, Giveaways, Mountain Folk
All at http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
Tipper
April 21, 2010 at 7:00 pmSam-they did like the violet jelly. But both said they weren’t ready to give up Blackberry Jelly for it : )
Blind Pig The Acorn
Music, Giveaways, Mountain Folk
All at http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
My Carolina Kitchen
April 21, 2010 at 4:08 pmI’m glad you gave this jelly a try. It’s so pretty too. Did your girls like it?
Sam
Sandra
April 21, 2010 at 1:03 pmyet another thing i have never heard of, keep them coming. anything that sweet and pretty has to be good. the song is approriate today. thanks for sharing
Lauren
April 21, 2010 at 12:16 pmI knew they were edible, but never knew anyone that would actually try to eat them and certainly didn’t know you could make jelly from them. The color of the water from steeping is gorgeous!! So…was it good??? I might have to try this…
Pat in east TN
April 21, 2010 at 10:12 amNow this really sounds interesting, and the end result if very pretty. I like your description of the taste, ha … I may have to give this a try.