Written by Kate Tietje
The pretty purple flowers are popping up all over my yard…do you see them in yours?
They are tiny, with richly-colored petals and curled heart-shaped leaves. Both the leaves and flowers are edible and medicinal! They are among the first flowers to pop up in the spring (alongside dandelions, another favorite). If you haven’t picked some yet, it’s definitely time to do so! If you haven’t caught on, we’re talking about violets!
How (and Why) to Make a Violet Tincture
Historically speaking, violets — along with dandelions and elderflowers — were consumed in early spring for a good reason: natural detox. Our ancestors usually ate a very starch-and-salt-heavy diet during the winter months. Potatoes, grains, and salted meats because that’s what was available to them off-season. Between this diet and the cold months stuck inside the home without much exercise (they didn’t exactly have gyms!), they were ready for some changes.
Violets are rich in several vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin C) and a blood purifier. It helps to cleanse the body of all that heaviness and restore vibrant, energetic functioning.
Although we don’t have quite the same situation today — our diets are more stable year-round, and we do have access to gyms, indoor activity, and bright lights all winter — we could all use a little gentle cleansing and support. Unlike our ancestors, we’re exposed to many environmental toxins in processed foods, water, and polluted air.
Violets are also good for minor pain and respiratory support (cough/cold).
This is also nearly free medicine, growing outside in your own yard! What’s not to love about that?
Ways to use violets:
- Add to salads
- Add to smoothies
- Make into violet lemonade (steep 2 cups violets in 4 cups near-boiling water for 15 minutes, strain; then add to your favorite lemonade recipe)
- Make into jelly
- Make a tincture!
My preferred method is a tincture because it is minimal work (it took only about 2 minutes to make the tincture, not including picking time), and then it’s ready whenever I want it. I only have to make it once for the whole season!
DViolet Tincture
Ingredients:
- About 1 1/2 cups loosely packed violet flowers and leaves
- 3/4 cup filtered water
- 1 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin (look for one based on palm or coconut, not corn or soy)
Directions:
Step 1: Add violets to a mason jar
Step 2: Mix glycerin and water and pour over violets
Step 3: Cap and shake to combine
Step 4: Let steep for 4 – 6 weeks, OR put in a simmering pan for several hours
Step 5: Strain and use 10 – 20 drops daily or as needed!
If you don’t have glycerin, you can use vodka to make an alcohol extraction or apple cider vinegar (ACV) to make a vinegar extraction. You can even make a simple water infusion such as tea (1 tablespoon of violet blossoms to 8 ounces of water). We can have more vibrant health with the plants that grow all around us. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing! If you use vodka, is the recipe the same? You’re just replacing the glycerin? Also, the jar looks like a pint jar. Is that what the amounts in the recipe are for?
When simmering, do you use a lid on your pot?
No, but watch the water level. It should stay at least halfway up the jar.
Is the tincture safe to take during pregnancy?
There are no known contraindications with violets and pregnancy. I consumed them while pregnant. Here is the herbal profile with some more information about violets: https://modernalternativemama.com/2023/01/26/herbal-profile-violets/
I made a violet tea with all the violets on my little mountain. Very earthy flavor but the color was gorgeous!!!!! Gonna harvest for a tincture next year. They are all over my neighborhood.
That is awesome! The colors are so exciting and pretty, aren’t they?