Black locust flower

Fleur d’acacia

What it is

The tree is Robinia pseudoacacia, no relation to true acacia, and it carries the name of Jean Robin, who sowed one in Paris in 1601 — that tree still stands in square René-Viviani. Its white racemes smell of orange blossom and honey for about two weeks in late spring, and then there is nothing until the following year.

In the kitchen

Batter and fry whole racemes held by the stalk, then snip the stalk away at the plate — pick the flowers off first and you are left frying a handful of nothing. Eat only the flowers: bark, leaves and seeds of this tree are toxic.

Goes with

Honey Lemon Egg White sugar Cream Apricot Elderflower

Same species

Acacia honey

In season alongside

Honeycomb Apricot Bee pollen Cantaloupe melon Damask rose petals Elderflower

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