Tulip

Tulipa gesneriana

flower

Crunchy petals tasting of fresh peas or cucumber, used as little cups in salads.

Origin

Central Asia

Where to find it

In the garden, from untreated tulips; in Central Asia, in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, the bulbs of wild tulips used to be eaten in the mountains.

Season (United States)

April to May

Preparation

Only the petals: the bulb, eaten out of necessity during the famine, irritates the gut and the skin, and garden-center bulbs are often treated.

Did you know?

During the famine winter of 1944-1945, the Dutch survived by eating tulip bulbs.