[Sca-cooks] Edible Violet Water?

[Huette von Ahrens]

I have some violet extract which is used for cooking.  It isn't violet water by any means.

I have found a place in Cleveland OH that sells either Violet flavor or Violet oil.  They are called Bickfords.  They claim that everything that

"Through the years, we have maintained our high standards and know you will find our excellent customer service, honesty and, most importantly, our products to be of superior quality. We service restaurants, caterers, health food stores and many fine food manufacturers. Our "little bottles of natural goodness" are shipped in a variety of sizes ranging from one ounce to a 55-gallon drum. The flavors contain no added alcohol, sugar or salt and are Kosher certified. All this makes them very popular with gourmet retailers and anyone requiring special diets."

http://www.bickfordflavors.com/onlineordering.asp

Their water-soluble violet flavoring sells for $3.09 for 1 oz + $8.95 shipping.  Their violet oil, which is supposed to be stronger in flavor, is
$7.95 + $8.95 shipping.  

I hope that this helps.

I picked up some Kewda Water, because it called itself Iris Water.  But looking it up, it really isn't made from iris.  Have you had experience using Kewda water?

Huette

PS: please write me privately about my snoods?  Thanks.




--- On Wed, 8/26/09, lilinah at earthlink.net <lilinah at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: lilinah at earthlink.net <lilinah at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Edible Violet Water?
> To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
> Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 2:37 PM
> Without repeating my post to the
> other list in its entirety, here's what i hope is the
> gist...
> 
> While there are many flowers in the Genus Viola, only one
> has the fragrance used in cuisine, confectionery, and
> perfumery. That is Viola odorata, aka Sweet Violet and
> English Violet, which lends its odor and flavor to violet
> syrups, violet candies and candied violets (two different
> things), as well as violet eau de toilette and violet
> perfume.
> 
> Alas, Viola odorata does not grow naturally or happily in
> Southern or Northern California, where i live.
> 
> Viola sororia is the species that grows commonly in the
> American East and Midwest, and is the state flower of
> Illinois, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. It looks
> lovely but lacks the fragrance of Viola odorata.
> 
> A number of Viola species are grown here in California,
> such as heartsease (Viola tricolor) and pansies (Viola x
> wittrockiana). And they are edible. I've purchased them and
> used them in salads and as garnishes on dishes. But while
> they look lovely, they have little fragrance and they are
> not the violets used to give violet flavor and violet
> fragrance.
> 
> So, while "recipes" for making one's own violet water may
> help those living in the right climate and with the skill
> and land to grow Viola odorata, they won't help me :-(
> 
> That's why i'm looking for edible violet water i can
> purchase.
> 
> I have found some violet syrups available for Internet
> purchase. Unfortunately one costs $33 for a tad over 8 oz.
> Another (Monin brand) is reasonably priced at $9 for around
> 16 oz. But shipping is more than $7, pushing the price of
> the reasonable one to over $16, which i think is too much.
> Some local shops sell Monin brand and they're willing to
> special order and sell me a *case* of violet syrup, but,
> well, i don't want to part with over $50 for something i'm
> not likely to ever use it. And i can't convince enough ocal
> cooks to go in on a case with me.
> -- Urtatim (that's err-tah-TEEM)
> the persona formerly known as Anahita
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