"A boom in edible flowers is sweeping Japan." Nippon Television investigated the trend and one of their reporters started at a friend's wedding dinner where she saw flowers used in the menu. The flowers are grown locally and a visit was paid to an edible flowers greenhouse in Akita.
Click here to view the 3.5 minute video www.ntv.co.jp
The grower she visited had been growing ornamental flowers for 46 years and as the sales started to drop, he switched to edible flowers three years ago. The grower says: "Flower arranging is popular among women in their 50s-60s, but edibles attract people in their 20s right through to their 60s." He grows nine varieties of edible flowers and sells them all over Japan. Violas are the most popular."
The flowers are also on display in supermarkets. According to one shop owner, the sales have risen over the last three years.
The flowers also contain a lot of vitamins and minerals and of course, they look good on Instagram.