With the recent summer heatwave, it seems like a good time make a pitcher of refreshing Lavender Lemonade to keep us cool. Don’t let factory sweetened, artificially flavored bottled drinks tempt you. Take a moment to make your own refreshing summer drink.
Lavender is easy to add to your garden beds and will return year after year. Bonus: the bees will thank you! Lavender buds and stems have culinary uses (often found in Herbes de Provence blends) similar to rosemary. The scent it spreads when cut makes fall trimming a tolerable chore. Home-grown, untreated lavender or dried lavender is what you’ll want to use for the tea.
You may be able to find lavender at your local farm market. You can find dried culinary lavender online, or check this out locally: http://oleylavenderco.com.
Keep in mind you can also use the lavender infused simple syrup in cocktails or to sweeten a sparkling soda.
Try these other refreshing summer drinks on the Berks County Living Blog…
Blushing Belgium to pair with your summer grilling
Stay on top of wholesome recipes, local eats or Phoebe's food and lifestyle podcast at Phoebe's website.
Happy and healthy cooking!
Lavender Lemonade
Recipe by Phoebe Canakis, PhoebesPureFood.com
Yields about 12 cups
If you’d like to try mint lemonade, instead of lavender, swap two cups of loosely packed mint leaves for the lavender. If you have an herb garden, consider adding tarragon and mixing it with the mint for a special flavor.
Ingredients
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- 8 cups water, divided
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- 1-3/4 cups sugar
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- 1/4 cup fresh lavender buds (it is okay to use the buds, stems and leaves) or 3 tablespoons of dried lavender buds
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- 1-1/2 cups lemon juice
Instructions
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- In a small saucepan, prepare simple syrup by bringing 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the sugar, reduce to a simmer, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in the lavender and allow to cool, then strain. Discard the lavender.
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- In a large serving pitcher, combine the lemon juice, remaining 6 cups of water and syrup to taste; stir well. Chill before serving.
