Edible flowers have become the latest food fashion, such as in United Kingdom, Portugal and Australia, making this niche market very challenging. Producers and points of sale of edible flowers (supermarkets, local markets, online) are increasing around the world, whereas consumers and professional chefs are demanding higher quality products. Despite being a growing market, information available on production, export and import is still scarce, without statistical data, with information restricted to that given by some producers and points of sale. So, this review aims to provide valuable information on the current situation of the edible flowers’ world market, with particular emphasis in Portugal, as well as, to give knowledge about legislation, promotional projects and campaigns, consumers and chefs perceptions, and to indicate the future trends regarding edible flowers.

This review intends to summarize the current knowledge on the post-harvest technologies applied to edible flowers, to help producers to increase their market share and to inform consumers on the technologies that are available to maintain edible flowers’ quality and safety. Emerging post-harvest technologies as High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) or irradiation have given good results. Freeze- or vacuum-drying has shown to be highly effective in the preservation of flowers’ bioactive compounds in comparison with classical drying approaches. While osmotic dehydration is already in use, the application of edible coatings and films can be a healthier alternative, without increasing solute contents.