Wild Violets picked from my yard

Decided to take advantage of all the violets growing freely in my yard. Started raining or I would have gotten more.

Violet health benefits:

Lymphatic

Anti-inflammatory

Antirheumatic

Bronchitis

Diuretic

Mucoactive agent

For a sore throat

Gentle laxative

Insomnia

Lymphagogue

Respiratory system

Stress relief

Violet as food

Vitamin C

Here are some ways to use violets medicinally:

Respiratory Issues:

Violet tea, syrup, or fresh tincture can help soothe coughs, particularly in children, and address congestion related to upper respiratory infections.

Skin Conditions:

Topically, violets can be used as a poultice, compress, or infused oil for dry, chafed skin, insect bites, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Lymphatic Congestion:

Violet can help move stuck or stagnant lymph and soften glandular tissues. It can be taken as a tea, syrup, or tincture, or applied externally as a poultice or infused oil.

Other Uses:

Violets have been used for headaches (binding leaves to the head), boils (poultice of crushed root), and even to keep insects away from crops.

Violet Tea:

Pour boiling water over a handful of leaves, let it steep, and cool. This tea can aid in restful sleep, moderate anger, and is a mild laxative.

Violet Syrup:

Combine violet petals with water and sugar, then simmer until the desired consistency is reached. This can be used as a throat soother or added to other beverages.

Violet Infused Oil:

Infuse oil with violet leaves and flowers to create a soothing salve for skin conditions or massage into breasts for health benefits.

How do you preserve wild violets?

Wild violets can be preserved through methods like drying, candying, or making syrup. Drying involves air drying or using a dehydrator, while candying involves dipping them in egg white and sugar. Making a syrup involves infusing flowers with water and sugar.

Drying Violets

Air Drying:

Spread violets on a drying screen, dishcloth, or paper towels in a single layer. Turn them over daily or every few days until they are completely dry, which can take 4-7 days.

Dehydrator:

Spread violets on dehydrator screens and dry at 90-95°F (32-35°C) for 4-5 hours, checking periodically.

Candying Violets:

Dip individual violet flowers in beaten egg white, then roll in granulated sugar.

Place them on parchment paper and dry in a low oven (around 200°F or 93°C) until crisp.

Making Wild Violet Syrup:

Combine violet flowers with water (1:1 ratio) in a pot and simmer for 24-48 hours.

Strain the liquid, then add sugar and lemon juice to taste, says a post on Reddit.

The syrup can be stored in a jar in the refrigerator.

Other Preservation Methods:

Tincture: Infuse vodka with violets in a jar, then strain and store in an amber glass bottle.

Vinegar: Infuse white or rice wine vinegar with violets in a jar.

Tips for Storage:

Store dried violets in airtight containers in a cool, dark place.

Dried violets can be crushed and used in tea or in other culinary applications.