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About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

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Learn Africa through science, stories, recipes, proverbs, history, and geography — interconnected, just as life is.

Five Edible Flowers

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📁 African food

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Adding edible flowers to recipes is a very common practice. Eating flower blooms has a very long history in Africa. Squash and zucchini flowers are a common sight in African kitchens. 


Squash and zucchini flowers are a common sight in African kitchens.
Squash and zucchini flowers are a common
sight in African kitchens.

Every year around springtime during the months of September, October and November, the desert South Africa Namaqualand region comes alive with a sea of colorful indigenous wild flowers. 

With the blessings from Mother Nature, Namaqualand displays around 1,000 - 4,000 different species of plants and flowers each season. Many flowers are inedible however; five flowers are commonly used in cooking African food.

Edible flowers are flowers that can be consumed safely, below are five edible flowers to add to your home recipes. Always try to pick the blooms as close to when you are going to use them as possible.

Five Edible Recipe Flowers 


Five Edible Recipe Flowers

Arugula Flowers

Young arugula flowers have a milder, subtler flavor than the arugula leaves, and can be used in many of the same dishes, such as salads and many egg dishes.

Starflowers

Blue borage, also known as a starflowers are the perfect flower to add to salads, as they have a taste similar to that of cucumber. The blue flowers are very beautiful and look impressive in a fruit salad.

Squash, Pumpkin and Zucchini Flowers

Squash, pumpkin and zucchini flowers are a common sight in African kitchens. Squash and zucchini plants are a valuable crop as they produce a large number of flowers on each plant, meaning you can harvest some flowers and still leave plenty behind to turn into vegetables.

Broccoli Flowers

Broccoli flowers add a milder broccoli taste to dishes, pairing well with salad greens where their bright yellow color stands out.

Chive Flowers

Chives are a member of the onion family with beautiful purple flowers. They are a great addition to mashed potatoes, adding striking purple flecks of color.


 New recipe
Pumpkin Leaves Stew

Chibwabwa pumpkin leaves stew recipe is warm, comforting recipe full of healthy pumpkin leaves. Pumpkin plants have large, dark green, lobed leaves containing plenty of fiber, iron, protein, calcium, vitamin A, C and per one cup of leaves, there are only 7 calories.

Pumpkin Leaves Stew and Rice

Ingredients
3 handfuls young pumpkin leaves
1 medium onion chopped
2 medium tomatoes diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 minced garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon black and red pepper
1 diced hot pepper
2 cups water
Salt to taste


Directions

Add all ingredients simmer 30 minutes. Serve with rice or bread.

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

🍚

🍚 When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations. The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe."

🍲 The Deeper Recipe:

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.