Homemade Lavender Lemonade

Homemade lemonade brings back childhood memories of warm summer days, fresh country air and sunshine. For centuries lavender has been appreciated for its fragrance, used to perfume soaps and sachets for scenting linens. Lavender is also known for its health benefits, helping with insomnia and soothing the digestive system.

Lavender is such an incredible herb and can be used in sweet and savoury dishes. I love to add the floral scented flavour of lavender to cakes, biscuits, drinks and custard based desserts and I also enjoy spreading this delicious lavender and honeycomb butter on warm toast and scones. With a myriad of uses in the culinary world, dried lavender will always have a place in my kitchen.

The flavours of lemon and lavender pair well together and are perfect ingredients for making this cool and refreshing drink. The natural pinkish colour of the lavender lemonade makes it visually very inviting… as well as tasting so good. It is important to note that only food grade dried lavender should be used, as not all lavender is suitable for cooking with. Go lightly at first when using lavender’s potent flavour in recipes, or experimenting with, nobody will appreciate food or drinks that taste like a bar of soap! My first lavender cake tasted like a bar of soap! 😦

Suffering from the sweltering summer heat (we are in Bahrain)…

“When life gives you lemons lavender, why not make lemonade”

Lavender Lemonade

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of (food grade) dried lavender
• 250ml very hot water (just of the boil)
• 12 tablespoons of caster sugar
• juice of 8 lemons (remove some of the lemon peel first if you wish to use some as a garnish)
• 750ml cold water
• ice cubes (optional) (if using, reduce the cold water by approximately 150ml)

How to make: Pour the hot water over the dried lavender, cover and leave to infuse for about 15 minutes. Strain the lavender water into a jug (discarding the dried lavender) and stir in the caster sugar to dissolve. Add the lemon juice and cold water, stir together. Store the  lavender lemonade in the refrigerator until needed. Serve the lavender lemonade chilled, garnish with strips of lemon peel, if desired. Makes 6 servings.