How to use thyme flowers

Thyme is usually grown for its aromatic leaves. Some gardeners delay flowering by pinching off the top of the plant to force the plant to “focus” on leaves as long as possible. When thyme blooms, it produces very attractive white or purple flowers, and once it does, you should not harvest leaves because they quickly lose the typical aroma. The good news is that flowers attract beneficial insects to your garden…

Why does thyme bloom?

It is a natural part of the life cycle of many plants and flowering means that plants are getting ready for the end of their life cycle – the production of seeds. Flowers are used for many interesting applications. Sure, the main purpose is a decoration, but flowers are used to make various products (syrups, honeys, etc.). So, how can you use thyme flowers, which usually appear from late spring to summer? Read on to find out. When thyme is finished flowering, you can cut plants down to ground level.

Photo: Pixabay

In the kitchen

Thyme flowers are edible, so you can use them for cooking. The later you harvest flowers, the stronger the flavour. The ideal time is after about three weeks of flowering. Use flowers in the same way as leaves, but keep in mind that the taste is milder. Use flowers in meat and vegetable dishes, in salads or as a garnish for cheese plates for example.

Herbal tea

You can also dry flowers and use them to make herbal tea which will have a milder flavour than tea made from leaves. But even tea made from flowers will provide the same health benefits. Many people even prefer tea made from flowers over tea made from leaves.

Attractive plants

If you want to leave flowers on the plant, you may certainly do so. Flowers are very attractive and will give your garden an additional touch of colours and attract beneficial insects (pollinators). You can also make beautiful and fragrant flower arrangements. When thyme is done flowering you can collect seeds, but you need to wait until the flowers turn brown and then you need to cut them off. Place flowers in a paper bag and store in a cool and dry place for about two weeks. To remove seeds, gently crush the flowers and use seeds for the next season.

Source: https://www.urbangardengal.com/how-to-use-thyme-flowers/

Preview photo: Pixabay