# Parma Violets > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Parma_Violets > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Parma_Violets.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parma_Violets > Source revision: 1332590027 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Confectionery}} {{About|the sweets|the plant|Parma violet|the band|Palma Violets}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use British English|date=July 2021}} thumb|Parma Violets (small size) '''Parma Violets''' are a British [violet](/source/Viola_(plant))-flavoured [tablet](/source/tableting) [confectionery](/source/confectionery) manufactured by the [Derbyshire](/source/Derbyshire) company [Swizzels Matlow](/source/Swizzels_Matlow), {{Cite news|title=Love Hearts maker Swizzels Matlow keeps clients sweet|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/love-hearts-maker-swizzels-matlow-keeps-clients-sweet-26l89r9xph0 |last=Lyons |first=Teena |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2021-07-09|newspaper=[The Times](/source/The_Times)|publication-place=London |url-access=subscription}} named after the [Parma violet](/source/Parma_violet) variety of the flower. The sweets are hard, [biconcave](/source/biconcave) discs, similar to the Fizzers product from the same company but without their [fizziness](/source/Effervescence). Swizzels Matlow have also released a line of Giant Parma Violets. Ingredients include sugar, [stearic acid](/source/stearic_acid), [modified starch](/source/modified_starch), [glucose syrup](/source/glucose_syrup), and [anthocyanin](/source/anthocyanin).Swizzels Matlow: ''Parma Violets Ingredients'' ==Precursors== The petals of violets have long been used in [herbalism](/source/herbalism) for their medicinal properties, even mentioned by [Dioscorides](/source/Dioscorides).{{cite book|last1=Font Quer|first1=Pio|title=Plantas Medicinales; el Dioscórides Renovado|date=1995|publisher=Editorial Labor S.A.|location=Barcelona|isbn=84-335-6151-0|pages=288–289|edition=15th|lang=es}} "Violet tablets", sugary [lozenges](/source/Throat_lozenge) flavoured with violets, were made before 1620.{{cite web|title=Oxford English Dictionary|url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/223648|website=OED|publisher=Oxford University Press|accessdate=30 June 2017}} During the 18th century, crushed violet petals, rosewater, and sugar were combined to make an early type of confectionery known as flower pastry.{{Cite web|url=http://www.organic-e-publishing-international.com/english/cultural-morsel/216-2/|title=Using flowers in the French cooking from the 18th century | organic-e-publishing-international}} These could be used for flavouring a cake, or moulded into pastils and eaten as sweets.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k7FjAAAAcAAJ&dq=violet+flower+pastry&pg=PA485|title=The Professed Cook: The Modern Art of Cookery, Pastry, and Confectionary, Made Plain and Easy |translator-last=Clermont |translator-first=B [Translated by Him from - Menon's "Les Soupers de la Cour"] |edition=10th |date=1812 |publisher=T. Simpson |location=London}} In the [Edwardian era](/source/Edwardian_era), violet-flavoured chocolate and liquor were used to relieve sickness.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ih7zCQAAQBAJ&dq=parma+violets&pg=PT35 |title=Perfume: A Century of Scents |first=Lizzie |last=Ostrom |date=2015 |publisher=[Hutchinson](/source/Hutchinson_(publisher)) |location=London |isbn=9781473506084 |page=35}} == Description == [[File:Parma Violets cupcakes.jpg|thumb|Parma Violets cupcakes made with Swizzels cake mix. The vanilla fairy cake is topped with parma violet flavoured [buttercream](/source/buttercream), and topped with the sweet itself]] Parma Violets were created in 1946{{Cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/15/someones-made-a-parma-violet-flavoured-cheese-and-its-confusing-af-6009318/|title=Someone's made a Parma Violet flavoured cheese and it's confusing AF |last=Larbi |first=Miranda |date=2016-07-15 |website=[Metro.co.uk](/source/Metro.co.uk) |access-date=2021-07-09}} by the [Derbyshire](/source/Derbyshire) company [Swizzels Matlow](/source/Swizzels_Matlow).{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8893994/Dream-factory-the-story-of-a-sweet-company.html |title=Dream factory: the story of a sweet company |first=Jessica |last=Salter |newspaper=[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph) |location=London |date=2011-11-19 |url-access=subscription}} They are sweets that are hard, biconcave discs, based on similar [aniseed](/source/aniseed) confectionery traditionally consumed in India after a spicy meal.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=My9cBAAAQBAJ&dq=parma+violets&pg=PT152|title=Great British Sweets: And How To Make Them at Home|first=Adele|last=Nozedar|date=2014-09-04|publisher=[Random House](/source/Random_House)|location=London|isbn=9781448161218}} Their flavour has been described as sweet with a soapy or floral taste.{{Cite news|url=http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/local-news/love-hate-it-retro-sweets-11691252|title=Love it or hate it? Retro sweets Parma Violets inspire new cheese|last=Britton|first=Karen|date=2016-08-01|newspaper=[Macclesfield Express](/source/Macclesfield_Express)|access-date=2016-10-12}} The current recipe includes sugar, stearic acid, modified starch, glucose syrup, and anthocyanin. In 2016, Swizzels Matlow released a special Parma Violets flavoured cheese, produced by the Cheshire Cheese Company to celebrate their 70th birthday. Cocktails that replicate the flavour of the confectionery are also available in some UK bars.{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/levenshulme-gin-festival-tickets-klondyke-12591102|title=Love gin? Then you'll want to go to this gin festival in Levenshulme|first=Lucy|last=Lovell|date=2017-02-11|newspaper=[Manchester Evening News](/source/Manchester_Evening_News)}} In 2019, Somerset cider company [Brothers Cider](/source/Brothers_Cider) launched a Parma Violet-flavoured cider.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/brothers-launch-parma-violet-cider-16028442|title=Brothers launch Parma Violet cider and social media is going mad for it|first=Simon|last=Duke|date=2019-03-26|newspaper=[ChronicleLive](/source/ChronicleLive)}} Also, large bags of Parma Violets can be purchased from the official website in sizes up to 3kg{{Cite web|url=https://www.swizzels.com/shop/3kg-party-pack-of-parma-violets|title=Parma Violets - 3kg- Swizzels|website=www.swizzels.com}} along with other online retailers. == In popular culture == * In [Ian Fleming](/source/Ian_Fleming)'s [James Bond](/source/James_Bond) series, [hard candies](/source/hard_candies) very similar in description to Parma Violets are the favourite sweet of the [supervillain](/source/supervillain) [Ernst Stavro Blofeld](/source/Ernst_Stavro_Blofeld) due to their breath freshening properties.{{Cite book|title=[Thunderball](/source/Thunderball_(novel)) |last=Fleming |first=Ian |author-link=Ian Fleming |publisher=[Jonathan Cape](/source/Jonathan_Cape) |year=1961 |location=London |page= |isbn=9780224602068}} * The name of the British [Indie pop](/source/Indie_pop) band [Palma Violets](/source/Palma_Violets) is derived from the Matlows confectionery. Irish singer [Naomi Hamilton](/source/Jealous_of_the_Birds) also released an album in 2016 named after the sweet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forfolkssake.com/reviews/33472/album-jealous-of-the-birds-parma-violets|title=Album | Jealous of the Birds – Parma Violets}}{{Cite news|last=Campbell |first=Brian |url=http://www.irishnews.com/arts/2016/05/06/news/jealous-of-the-birds-singer-songwriter-naomi-hamilton-takes-flight-as-she-launches-her-debut-album-parma-violets-510142/|title=Jealous of the Birds singer-songwriter Naomi Hamilton takes flight with debut album |date=2016-05-06 |newspaper=[The Irish News](/source/The_Irish_News) |location=Belfast |quote=The album Parma Violets is released today.}} * A 2005 survey reported by ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'' revealed Parma Violets to be the least popular childhood sweet among its adult respondents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/mar/05/foodanddrink|title=Sweets we loathe|first=Martin|last=Wainwright|date=2005-03-05 |newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) |location=London}} * In British Pop Artist [Stuart Semple](/source/Stuart_Semple)'s 'potion' paint line, Purple Haze is claimed to be Parma Violet Candy Scented.{{Cite web|url=https://www.culturehustleusa.com/collections/potions/products/haze-medium-violet-high-grade-professional-acrylic-paint-by-stuart-semple-100ml|title=HAZE - MEDIUM VIOLET, HIGH GRADE PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC PAINT, BY STUART SEMPLE 100ML}} ==See also== * [List of confectionery brands](/source/List_of_confectionery_brands) == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * [https://swizzels.com/ Swizzels Matlow Website] Category:Brand name confectionery Category:Swizzels Matlow brands --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Parma Violets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parma_Violets) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parma_Violets?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.