Culinary Lavender: Can You Eat Lavender?

Yes, you can eat lavender. Culinary lavender, the dried buds of English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), is edible and has a sweet, floral flavour with notes of mint and rosemary. Use it in small amounts in tea, honey, lemonade and baking. Avoid garden lavender that may have been sprayed, and never eat lavender essential oil.

English lavender's flavour and calming scent come from two aromatic compounds, linalool and linalyl acetate, which also give lavender its relaxing reputation. [1] [2] In a randomized clinical trial, drinking lavender tea twice a day significantly reduced anxiety and depression scores in older adults. [3]

Is All Lavender Edible?

Not all lavender tastes good, and some varieties are not meant for the kitchen.

Look for the words "culinary," "food grade" or Lavandula angustifolia on the label. Craft-store and florist lavender is often treated or sprayed, so it should never go in food.

What Does Lavender Taste Like?

Floral, softly sweet and slightly herbal, with hints of mint and rosemary, its cousins in the mint family. A little tastes elegant. Too much tastes like soap. That is the golden rule of cooking with lavender: start small.

Dried Lavender Buds vs Fresh

Dried culinary lavender buds are about three times stronger than fresh, because drying concentrates the aromatic oils. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of dried buds, use about 1 tablespoon of fresh.

How Much Lavender to Use

6 Ways to Use Culinary Lavender

1.          Lavender tea: steep 1 teaspoon in just-boiled water, covered, for 5 to 7 minutes. Full method: How to Make Lavender Tea.

2.          Lavender honey: gently warm honey with dried buds, steep for an hour, strain and jar. Beautiful in tea.

3.          Lavender lemonade: steep buds in hot water, strain, chill, and mix with lemon juice and honey.

4.          Lavender shortbread: grind a teaspoon of buds with the sugar for an even flavour.

5.          Lavender sugar: layer buds and sugar in a jar for a week, then sift. Lovely in baking and tea.

6.          Lavender latte: steep lavender in a little hot water, add honey, and top with frothed milk.

The Easiest Way to Drink Lavender

Quiet Mind blends culinary lavender with smooth rooibos, rose petals, rosehip, elderberry and blueberry, so it never tastes soapy. Caffeine-free and naturally lightly sweet with stevia leaf, it is lavender done right. For bedtime, see Does Lavender Help You Sleep?, and for a classic pairing, Chamomile and Lavender Tea.

Never Eat Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is highly concentrated and is not food. It is made for aromatherapy and skincare, not for tea, honey or baking. Use dried culinary buds for anything you eat or drink.

Who Should Take Care

Culinary lavender in food and tea amounts is well tolerated by most people. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take sedatives, or have a lavender or mint-family allergy, check with your healthcare provider first.

How to Store Dried Lavender

Keep it in an airtight, opaque container in a cool, dark cupboard. It keeps its aroma for about a year. More in How to Store Tea.

The Avodah Moment: A Little Goes a Long Way

Avodah means devotion and service. Lavender teaches a gentle lesson: a little, used with care, is all it takes.

Make one small thing with it this week. A cup of lavender tea. A jar of lavender honey for the people you love. Then save a spoonful for yourself, stirred into a warm cup at the end of the day.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. This is where you fill yours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you eat lavender?

Yes. Culinary English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is edible in small amounts in tea, honey and baking.

Is all lavender edible?

English lavender is the best culinary choice. Lavandin is stronger and can taste soapy, and Spanish lavender is not for cooking.

What is culinary lavender?

Dried buds of English lavender grown and sold for food, free of the sprays used on garden or craft lavender.

What does lavender taste like?

Floral, softly sweet and slightly herbal, with hints of mint and rosemary.

How much dried lavender should I use?

About 1 teaspoon per cup of tea and ½ to 1 teaspoon per batch of baking. Dried buds are about three times stronger than fresh.

Can you put lavender essential oil in food or tea?

No. Essential oil is too concentrated to eat. Use dried culinary buds.

Your day. Your tea. Your Avodah Moment.

References

1.          Koulivand PH, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Lavender and the nervous system. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:681304.

2.          Cavanagh HMA, Wilkinson JM. Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytother Res. 2002;16(4):301-308.

3.          Bazrafshan MR, Jokar M, Shokrpour N, Delam H. The effect of lavender herbal tea on the anxiety and depression of the elderly: a randomized clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2020;50:102393.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. Avodah teas are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, speak with your healthcare provider before adding a new herbal tea to your routine.