Font Quer, Pio (1995). Plantas Medicinales; el Dioscórides Renovado (in Spanish) (15thed.). Barcelona: Editorial Labor S.A. pp.288–289. ISBN 84-335-6151-0.

Parma Violets are a British violet-flavoured tablet confectionery manufactured by the Derbyshire company Swizzels Matlow, [1] named after the Parma violet variety of the flower. The sweets are hard, biconcave disc-shaped sweets, similar to the Fizzers product from the same company but without their fizziness. Swizzels Matlow have also released a line of Giant Parma Violets. Any entry will be forfeited if the promoter cannot view the entry image due to the Social Media profile being set to private. Behind their large and very organised garden centre I was invited into the main glasshouse where the violets are produced. In fact they grow over 100 different varieties of violets. This includes both sweet violets and Parma violets. Their collection also includes a few other Viola species. Sir Joseph Banks was a fan. His gardener, Isaac Oldaker, grew 300 plants in pots every year for him. As Parma violets aren’t as hardy as Viola odorata, the violet of English hedgerows, they were grown in glass houses in the United Kingdom.I noticed that all plants are clearly and individually labelled. The production of so many similar looking varieties must make this essential.

Parma violets originated in the Levant, that is in Syria, Turkey and Lebanon. They were growing in what is now Italy by the 18th century. A favourite flower of Napoleon Bonaparte at least one variety was grown by the Empress Josephine’s gardeners at Malmaison where it was known as ‘La Violette de Parme’. They are mostly double flowered. Their scent is very characteristic it reminded me of corner shop sweets!A small number of the total plants sold were attractively displayed close to the garden centre entrance. Campbell, Brian (6 May 2016). "Jealous of the Birds singer-songwriter Naomi Hamilton takes flight with debut album". The Irish News. Belfast. The album Parma Violets is released today. Sweet violets used to be a very popular cut flower. In Victorian times ladies would pin sweet violets to their clothes and hair. In Ian Fleming's James Bond series, hard candies very similar in description to Parma Violets are the favourite sweet of the supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld due to their breath freshening properties. [15]

A 2005 survey reported by The Guardian revealed Parma Violets to be the least popular sweet among the Millennial generation. [18] This article is about the sweets. For the plant, see Parma violet. For the band, see Palma Violets. Even on a cold late autumn day I’m stopped by the scent of a bed of Palma Violets planted along a path which leads from my study to the nursery. Palma violets “... possess a delightful fragrance reminiscent of ordinary sweet violet perfume mixed with that of wallflowers”.* Little wonder that in the 19th century around Grasse in the south of France there were large plantings being grown for the perfume industry. Sadly in the 1890s a synthetic violet fragrance was discovered and was soon manufactured cheaply putting an end to the production of the natural oil.Nozedar, Adele (4 September 2014). Great British Sweets: And How To Make Them at Home. London: Random House. ISBN 9781448161218. Employees of Swizzels Matlow Limited or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition. The competition is open to residents of UK, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. But Groves have been nurserymen since 1866! Like many other nursery businesses they initially were seedsmen. Six generations of the Grove family have been nurserymen. It’s the floral flavour that divides the nation but we’re here to celebrate our favourite purple sweet.

Many selections of sweet violets were made by growers and desirable characteristics that were sought were long stems, good colour and of course strong scent! of Parma Violets. The marmite of the sweet world - these little rolls are sure to stimulate debate!Duke, Simon (26 March 2019). "Brothers launch Parma Violet cider and social media is going mad for it". ChronicleLive.