How do I prepare lavender for cooking?

The best way to dry culinary lavender flowers is to gather a bunch of around 20-30 flowers and tie them together with twine or a rubber band to create a bunch. Use a clothespin or other device to hang it upside down for one to two weeks or until completely dry.

Can lavender flowers be eaten?

Both the flowers and leaves can be eaten and have a pleasant yet slightly bitter flavor. Lavender grows throughout southern Europe, Australia and the United States. Dried lavender has only a few calories per tablespoon and is free of fat and cholesterol.

Which part of lavender is edible?

Lavender is a unique herb in that every part of the plant—bud, stem, and leaf—can be used in cooking. While the lavender flowers and leaves can be used fresh, the buds and stems can be used dried. Since the lavender flavor intensifies when the herb is dried, the dried buds should be used sparingly.

How do you know if your lavender is edible?

Look for pink-flowering ‘Rosea’ English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’) or ‘White Ice’ (Lavandula angustifolia ‘White Ice’) for unusual bloom colors with a milder, almost candy-like flavor. Lavandins (Lavandula x intermedia), which are hybrids of English lavender, also make wonderful culinary lavenders.

Can you eat lavender straight from the garden?

Yes, you can eat lavender! Lavender is an herb just like rosemary and thyme and you can eat lavender in endless dishes, drinks and sides!

Does eating lavender make you sleepy?

Lavender might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking lavender with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

What is the best way to consume lavender?

The most common way lavender is consumed is by brewing a tea from its buds. Brewing lavender buds into a tea helps release the oils and scents. There some small studies that suggest that inhaling its scent my lead to better sleep ( 1 , 2 ).

What happens if you eat lavender?

Some studies suggest that consuming lavender as a tea can help digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, upset stomach, and abdominal swelling. In addition to helping with digestive problems, lavender is used to help relieve pain from headaches, sprains, toothaches, and sores.

How do you eat fresh lavender?

Culinary Lavender

How do you harvest and use fresh lavender?

To harvest lavender leaves, you can either cut small springs, or pinch off individual leaves as you need them. Just be sure to use the tender new growth, and avoid any dry or brown leaves. If you don’t want to sacrifice the flowers, then make sure to gather the sprigs after the stem is done blooming.

What do you do with freshly cut lavender?

Fresh, cut lavender bunches can be put in a vase of water for 2-3 days. They will last up to 10 days in water, but if you want to dry the bunches, remove from water after 3 days, cut off brown parts of the stem and hang to dry.

How do you extract flavor from lavender?

Instructions

  1. In a clean glass bottle or jar, add lavender flowers and top it with vodka. Close the lid and give a good shake.
  2. Place the jar away from sunlight. Leave it ripping for 3 weeks.
  3. After 3 weeks, strain the liquid and discard the lavender flowers, using a coffee filter for a clearer extract.


What type of lavender is best for cooking?

If you’re cooking, use culinary lavender only. There are hundreds of varieties of lavender, but many are specifically grown for their excellent oil properties, not for eating. The best edibles are English lavender varieties (Lavandula angustifolia) like Hidcote, Munstead, and Lady.

What types of lavender are not edible?

Lavandins (L. x. intermedia) is edible, as is all lavender, but its flavor can be resinous and pungent. A Lavandin type will make a dish taste bitter.