Herb
Black Velvet
B tier
Black Velvet nasturtium bears near-black mahogany flowers that read as gothic chocolate-red in the garden and on plates. Leaves are green and peppery; the bloom’s drama is colour, with the same mild nectar-sweet throat as other nasturtiums. Use for high-contrast garnish on pale foods—goat cheese, cauliflower, white fish. A little leaf goes far in compound butter.
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Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
ButterCheese PlateDark Garnish
Traits
Dark BloomDramaticNear-Black FlowerPepper LeafPepperySpecialty Colour
History
Dark-flowered Black Velvet nasturtiums entered specialty seed trade.
Designers and chefs favoured black blooms for dramatic edible garnish.
Heirloom-style catalogues listed Black Velvet among novelty culinary flowers.
Black Velvet remained a sought dark-flower nasturtium for plating.