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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.
Lana
Tuesday 23rd of March 2021
Could you, please, clarify the amount of pectin needed? How many tablespoons would it be? Thank you so much!!!
Kim
Sunday 11th of April 2021
Lana, if you are using normal pectin as listed in the recipe there are 6 tablespoons in a box. I hope that helps!
Riley
Monday 25th of May 2020
Thank you so much for the recipe! My kiddos and I had fun picking flowers and they thought the color change was amazing! :) At what point in the process should the jelly be set? I took it out of the water bath and it is still liquidy, so wasn't sure it it will set as it cools or if we did not succeed. Thank you for any guidance you may be able to provide!
Kim
Monday 1st of June 2020
I'm so glad you liked it! Jelly won't set until it's completely cooled down. It can take a few days. If it doesn't set try this way of fixing it.
Pam
Monday 18th of May 2020
Hi, my husband and I went out and picked a lot of violets today, we removed all the green parts, well what I thought would be 2cups is really 1 plus a little more. I’m going to try and 1/2 the tea recipe and make that tonight, then go and pick some more flowers. The next bunch of flowers I’m going to leave the green part on, took forever to remove it. Thanks for the recipe
Kim
Saturday 23rd of May 2020
Hi Pat, I never remove the green part on the flowers but I do remove the stems at the same time that I pick them. That way it doesn't take much time at all.
amanda
Wednesday 6th of May 2020
i made this recipe last night and it is still fluid this morning. shouldnt it be set already ?
Dawn
Tuesday 5th of May 2020
I made this today and it’s delicious. Thank you for the great recipe.