Tag: Borage safety

The common starflower, borage ($Borago officinalis$), is renowned for its edible, blue, star-shaped blossoms, but many varieties also produce white flowers. Fortunately, the elegant, white-flowered variety, known as $Borago officinalis$ 'Alba', is just as edible as its blue counterpart and provides a delicate, fresh cucumber flavor.

While the beautiful star-shaped flowers of borage are a familiar sight in many gardens, its culinary use requires careful consideration due to the bristly hairs and presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. So, can borage be eaten raw? The answer is yes, but only certain parts and with important precautions.