Is the violet in florist bouquets the same plant?

Florist 'violets' are often pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) or African violets (Saintpaulia). Medicinal banafsheh is specifically Viola odorata, the small fragrant spring flower. Buy from an attari, herbal apothecary, or grow it from seed.

Can children drink violet tea?

A weak mild infusion of sweet violet is a long traditional Persian remedy for children's dry coughs. Use a single flat teaspoon of flowers per cup, steep 5 minutes, and sweeten lightly.

What is sharbat-e banafsheh?

It's a Persian violet syrup — flowers simmered with sugar and water, strained, and bottled. A tablespoon stirred into cool water makes a cooling, sore-throat-soothing drink that's part of the household summer apothecary.

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Exhibit I · The Invitation

Sweet Violet

Banafsheh — Avicenna's gentle flower for cough, insomnia, headache, and cooling fevered heat.

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Sweet Violet

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