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Would you like to try a little taste of spring in a jar? Then you just have to try making violet jelly! I have never seen violet jelly on a store shelf but it’s a family favourite around here.
If your wondering what it taste like, really I have to describe it as spring. Violet jelly tastes like sweet flowers with a touch of honey. It is just amazing!
In the spring when the wild violets start to flower you need to head outside to gather them. Now these are tiny little flowers and it does take a while to pick enough flowers but it’s so worth it!
This is also a wonderful job to get your children to help with.
Now what little child doesn’t enjoy picking flowers?
Of course make sure you’re gathering your flowers from a clean area. Avoid road sides and anywhere that might have been sprayed.
Wild Violet Jelly Step By Step
To make 1 batch of jelly you will need 2 cups of flowers, make sure there are no stems attached.
The first step to making violet jelly is to make a tea. Add the 2 cups of flowers into a quart size canning jar and pour 4 cups of boiling water over them.
As the flowers steep the colour from the flowers steep into the hot water. At first your tea takes on a pretty light blue colour.
Later it the violet tea looks like a dark green but don’t worry it won’t stay this way. Cover your jar and set it in a cool place overnight, I just tuck it into the fridge.
The next day you need to strain your flower petals. I line a strainer with cheesecloth and pour the tea into that.
Then squeeze the cloth to get every little bit of tea out. You will end up with about 3 1/2 to 4 cups of violet tea.
Pour your tea into a pot and add 1/4 cup of lemon juice. This turns the violet tea into a beautiful light purple colour!
Now add your package of powdered pectin and bring it to a boil. Add 4 cups of sugar stir it well and return to a boil.
Allow the jelly to boil for 1 to 2 minutes then remove from the heat and stir and skim for 5 minutes.
Pour your jelly into canning jars leaving 1/4 inch of head room, remove air bubbles by running a spatula around the inside edge. Wipe the edge of the jar clean and place lids and rings on.
Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes or according to your altitude.
Remove the jars from the canner and place on a towel. Let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours. If any jars don’t seal reprocess them or store in the fridge for using right away.
How To Make Violet Jelly
Enjoy the taste of spring year round with this delicious violet jelly recipe. This is such a fun jelly recipe to make with your kids!
Ingredients
- 2 cups violet flowers
- 4 cups boiling water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 package powdered pectin
Instructions
- Take 2 cups of violet flowers without stems and place them into a wide mouth canning jar. Pour 4 cups of boiling water over them. Allow the violet tea to cool and then place in the fridge to steep for up to 24 hours.
- Strain the violet tea through cheesecloth. You should have 3 1/2 to 4 cups of liquid. Pour this into a large saucepan.
- Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to the tea. The colour will change from green to purple!
- Add 1 package of powdered pectin and bring it to a boil.
- Add 4 cups of sugar and return the jelly to a boil. continue boiling for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir and skim for 5 minutes.
- Pour into jelly jars leaving 1/4 inch of head space. Wipe the rims and add lids and rings.
- Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes or according to your altitude.
- Remove from the canner and place on a towel for 24 hours until the seals have set.
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
Looking for more fun flower jelly recipes? Try these!
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Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.
Bethany
Saturday 26th of June 2021
Do you have to can the jelly or can you just use it right away without needing to do anything with canning?
Laura
Monday 31st of May 2021
The violet tea color was a beautiful violet color, I didn't remove the green parts, just no stem. But I was so bummed when I added them lemon juice, it turned pink! Is the lemon juice there for any other reason besides the color? If the color is what I like them can I omit it next time?
Kim
Tuesday 1st of June 2021
Hi Laura, lemon juice is added to jams and jellies to increase the acidy level making them safe to water bath can. Lemon juice also helps the pectin to form a gel, so I wouldn't remove it. But if you want to change the color you could try adding some drops of food coloring. The color of the jelly will also depend on the flowers. We have both purple and white violets in our yard and when we use a mix of flowers or just one or the other the jelly changes color.
Roxanne
Sunday 16th of May 2021
My Violet tea was a beautiful blue, then dark green, but after cooling and sitting in the fridge for 6 hours, it is very pale lavender... like hardly any colour at all.... will it still turn purple when I get set to add the lemon juice and boil it tomorrow morning?
Laura
Monday 31st of May 2021
@Roxanne, after 24 hours mine was a perfect violet. The lemon changed it to more of a pink unfortunately. Still pretty, but not violet.
Lynn
Thursday 13th of May 2021
Delicious! I made two batches last month and everyone loves it. Thank you.
Emily S.
Sunday 18th of April 2021
Not sure you’ll see this by the time o get supplies, but how much jelly does this make? If I get the mini jars (4oz I think?), how many might I expect to fill? Thanks for a fun idea and great recipe!
Tracy
Tuesday 27th of April 2021
@Emily S.,
I would like to know the same! I wanted the smaller, embossed jars for gifts as well. 😊