Can You Eat Magnolia Flowers?

Yes, you can. Magnolia flowers can be eaten raw. Fresh blossoms can also be mixed in salads and pickled. Pickled flowers can be used as a condiment. They are also edible in salad, sandwiches, and desserts. They can be used in Asian, Latin, and other ethnic cuisines.

Another thing is you can make tea and juice. Also, you can make your jams and jellies with them. They work well for eating as snack food or even desserts when pickled. They work great as vegetables and herbs in dishes. The flowers also contain a chemical that is good for you.

What Do Magnolia Flowers Taste Like?

Magnolia flowers taste great, especially when pickled. They have a sweet and tart flavor like cherry blossoms. It has an earthy kick to it as well.

Are Magnolia Flowers Safe to Eat?

Magnolia flowers are safe to eat if you consume them raw. If consumed in an amount that exceeds the recommended daily intake, it is known to potentiate both water and salt levels in a person’s body. The flower doesn’t have many nutrients like protein or vitamins A and C. However, which can lead one not to take advantage of its medicinal benefits when eaten with their meals. At the same time, this herb has shown little evidence of being harmful.

What Are Some of the Health Benefits of Eating Magnolia Flowers?

Magnolia flowers are a type of flowering plant that is native to the Southern United States. They have a sweet fragrance and unique petals.

Some of the health benefits of eating magnolia flowers include:

  • They can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
  • They can help improve your vision by increasing blood flow to the eyes.
  • They can help reduce stress and anxiety levels.
  • They have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the risk of arthritis. 
  • They are high in antioxidants, protecting your cells from damage and promoting healthy skin and hair. 
  • They contain natural compounds that may help reduce blood sugar levels and improve cholesterol levels.
Close up of a blooming flowers of Magnolia tree

How to Make a Pickle Magnolia Blossoms

Magnolia has a mild flavor of ginger and is also excellent with sashimi, sushi, and cheese.

Here’s a simple recipe for pickled magnolia blossoms by Kavey Eats.

Ingredients:

80-100 grams of freshly picked magnolia petals

150 mL of vinegar

50 grams of sugar

 0.5 teaspoons of salt

Instructions:

  1. Measure out the vinegar by volume and mix it with the sugar and salt that have been weighed.
  2. Heat the pickling liquid gently, constantly stirring, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Make this in the microwave – I heated mine for 30 seconds, stirred it, and then heated it for another 30 seconds to get the desired temperature.
  3. Pickling liquid should be tasted to determine if the balance of sweet and sharp flavors is to your liking. If this is not the case, a little more vinegar or sugar may be added.
  4. Remove the petals from the flower by carefully breaking them off at their base. Everything else should be thrown away except the petals.
  5. Make a flower stack by stacking the petals on top of each other, rolling them up, and slicing thinly with a sharp knife.
  6. In a small bowl, drop in the sliced petals and stir briefly to ensure that they are completely submerged in the pickling liquid.
  7. Continue slicing and steeping the flowers in the pickling liquid until all of the flowers have been used.
  8. Place the mixture in a jam jar or other suitable container.
  9. After cooling, please place it in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

Safety Precautions

Magnolia should be avoided by anyone who is scheduled to have surgery (general anesthesia) or to take sedative medications due to the potential for the slowing of the nervous system caused by the plant’s constituents. Regardless, always seek the advice of your primary care physician or a certified herbalist. This is not suitable for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.