Lavender Honey Lemonade Recipe – How To Make The Perfect Summer And Spring Beverage

Heat and humidity be darned, we’re making lavender lemonade! This refreshing summer drink is perfect for sipping on a hot day, and it’s pretty enough to serve at a party. But that’s not all it’s good for. Culinary lavender is also thought to have some health benefits, like reducing anxiety (bonus!) and helping with digestion. Lemons have long been revered for their “cleansing” properties, and honey has been used medicinally for centuries. So there may actually be some science to back up this delicious drink! Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to make this lovely beverage, let’s talk about lavender. You might be thinking, “Isn’t that the stuff they put in soaps and sachets?” Yes, it is! But it’s also a plant that you can grow in your garden (or in a pot on your balcony). And you can cook with it, too. Lavender is a member of the mint family, and its flowers and leaves are edible. It has a delicate floral flavor that is often described as being reminiscent of citrus. It’s important to use culinary-grade lavender in this recipe, as some types (like those used for crafts) may be treated with chemicals and you don’t want to ingest them.

What Kind Of Lavender Can You Eat?

There are dozens of different types of lavender, but not all of them are edible. Going to your florist or local nursery and picking up a bouquet of lavender is not going to work for this recipe. You need to make sure that you are using culinary lavender, which has a much milder flavor.

The most common edible lavender is English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), but you can also use Royal velvet lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Royal Velvet’), Folgate lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Folgate’), or even Melissa officinalis (lemon balm).

You want to avoid lavender species that have camphor in them, like Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) or French lavender (Lavandula dentata). Camphor gives lavender a bitter taste that is not palatable in large quantities.

Other lavender species won’t harm you but will make your lemonade taste soapy.

To dry lavender for culinary use, cut the stems when the flowers are in full bloom and hang them upside down in a dark, dry place until the lavender is completely dried out. This can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Once dried, strip the lavender flowers from the stem and store them in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them.

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Lavender Honey Lemonade Recipe (7)

Below is a simple recipe for lavender honey lemonade. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw honey, (local if you can get it)
• 5 cups filtered water
• 1 Tbsp. dried, organic culinary lavender, (or 1/4 cup fresh lavender blossoms, crushed)
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice, (fresh squeezed, organic)
• Ice cubes
• 2-3 sprigs dried, organic culinary lavender, (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Add honey, water, and lavender to a small saucepan over medium heat. 
2. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
3. Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes. 
4. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing down on the lavender with the back of a spoon to extract as much flavor as possible. 
5. Add lemon juice to the pitcher and stir to combine. 
6. Fill glasses with ice and lavender lemonade. Garnish with a sprig of lavender, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes: Do not use lavender oil in this recipe, as it can be toxic if ingested. Only use culinary-grade dried lavender or fresh lavender blossoms. 

Nutritional info: Calories 273kcal, Carbohydrates 74g, Protein 1g, Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 1g, Sodium 20mg, Potassium 107mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 71g, Vitamin C 24.5mg, Calcium 26mg, Iron 0.5mg

This recipe is courtesy of smallfootprintfamily.com

How Long Does Lavender Infused Honey Lemonade Last?

This beverage is best enjoyed fresh, but it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The lemonade will become increasingly tart the longer it sits, so you may want to add a little more honey when you drink it.

Is Lavender Lemonade Good For You?

Yes! As we mentioned before, lavender has some pretty amazing potential health benefits.

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Health Benefits Of Culinary Lavender

May Help Reduce Anxiety And Depression

Lavender oil has long been used as a natural treatment for anxiety and depression, whether as aromatherapy, applied topically or ingested.

Some studies suggest that this oil has compounds (possibly linalool and linalyl acetate) that can have calming, mood stabilizing, and other effects by affecting the brain chemicals gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin (5).

Some research suggests that the tea may also have similar effects (3). 

May Improve Sleep

The fragrance of lavender has been shown to promote sleep. In part, this may be due to the fact that it might relieve anxiety and depression. One study found that inhaling lavender oil before bed improved sleep quality in postpartum women (6).

Although there are no specific studies on the effects of ingesting lavender, it’s thought that the tea may also promote sleep especially if you take time to inhale its scent while you’re drinking it.

May Help Relieve Pain

Lavender oil has been shown to be effective in treating pain, including headache pain, dental pain, and postoperative pain (11). It’s thought that the oil works by reducing inflammation and promoting relaxation.

One study found that massage with lavender oil relieves menstrual cramping in women with primary dysmenorrhea (10).

May Settle An Upset Stomach

Lavender has long been used as a natural remedy for an upset stomach. The herb is thought to help relax the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, which might relieve pain and spasms. This could come in handy if you suffer from indigestion, bloating, or gas.

Read More: 16:8 Intermittent Fasting 7-Day Meal Plan

Health Benefits Of Lemon Juice

Fresh lemonade is more than just a delicious summertime beverage. The health benefits of lemons are numerous, and they have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments.

Good Source Of Vitamin C

Citrus fruits are well-known for their high vitamin C content, and lemons are no exception. Just one lemon provides approximately 45 mg of vitamin C, which is 50% of the Daily Value (DV) (9).

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in many aspects of health. It’s best known for its ability to support the immune system and help protect against colds and other infections (12).

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize harmful toxins known as free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, leading to oxidative stress and inflammation (12).

In addition, vitamin C is needed for the production of collagen, a protein that helps keep skin elastic and youthful-looking, as well as providing structure and support to the rest of our connective tissues (12).

May Aid Weight Loss

Lemons are often touted as a weight loss aid, and there’s some evidence to support this claim. Adding lemon juice to water can make it more palatable to drink. One study showed that people who drank water before a meal ate less than those who didn’t (2). If squeezing some lemon into your water helps you drink more of it, this may be useful for reducing overall calorie intake.

Another study in mice found that lemon polyphenols, compounds found in lemons, may help reduce weight gain and body fat accumulation (8). However, more research is needed before any strong conclusions can be made.

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May Improve Digestion

Lemons are a good source of fiber if you eat the pulp, including a type of soluble fiber called pectin. Soluble fibers can help promote regularity by adding bulk to the stool and keeping things moving through the digestive tract (4).

May Prevent Kidney Stones

Citrate, a compound found in lemons, may help prevent certain kinds of kidney stones. Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that form when there’s too much calcium or other minerals in the urine.

Citrate may help break up kidney stones or prevent new ones from forming. It is normally taken (as recommended by your doctor) in the form of potassium citrate supplements, but squeezing some lemon into your water or drinking lemonade may also help a little.

Lavender Honey Lemonade: The Bottom Line

Lavender honey lemonade is the perfect refreshing drink for summer and spring! This recipe is so easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand.

Plus, it’s naturally sweetened with honey and has a beautiful color that makes it perfect for serving at parties or gatherings.