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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
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.
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate, this information is for informational purposes only please consult a nutritionist for more information and guidance.
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.
Glenda Bell
Thursday 11th of April 2024
Thank you Kim. My granddaughters want their violet jelly. They picked the violets and presented them to me. I’ve used this recipe before and it sets perfectly.
Hol
Thursday 21st of March 2024
Followed the Violet Jelly recipe exactly. And I now have jars of pretty purple water.. I say water because that's the consistency of all of them. Can't even use it for syrup. Very disappointing.
Andrea
Friday 22nd of March 2024
@Hol, sound like it didn't set, maybe the pectin to sugar ratio was off? I've done this recipe for 4 years and one year was really runny - I recooked with a new batch of pectin and it came out better (still not jelly consistency, but syrup at least!)
Hannah
Monday 8th of May 2023
How many jars will this make? My goal is for 7 little jars. It's for a homeschool project.
Meg
Friday 14th of April 2023
Had more of a pink/red hue and tasted like lemon meringue. I could not taste the violets- thinking there might be too much lemon juice in this recipe.
Meg
Saturday 15th of April 2023
Update: waited a day and the taste is much better. Thank you for the recipe!!
Conny
Wednesday 5th of April 2023
Can I make this with artificial sweetener and low/no sugar pectin?