Mmmm, it smells so good! My English lavender is in bloom now with its beautiful, fragrant purple buds and I am determined to harvest and preserve it at its peak this year.
In the spirit of keeping it simple and easy, below is a quick guide on picking, pruning, preserving and using your lavender.
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Harvesting Lavender
Prime time for picking lavender is very soon after the flowers come out while they are still tightly formed. Picking while the flowers are still tight buds will give you the most concentrated flavor and aroma, though I admit I sometimes wait a bit too long to harvest because lavender in bloom is one of my favorite garden flowers.
Nevertheless, for best results, it really is best to harvest when the flowers are still young. The best time of the day to pick them is in the mid morning just after the dew has dried off which is when the oils are the most concentrated.
Edible Lavender Recipes
As a lavender lover, you can find lots of delicious lavender recipes here too. I've steeped lavender to make a Lavender Earl Grey Cake and written and easy guide on How To Make Easy Lavender Buttercream Frosting (Icing). Steeping the lavender gives it a mild, fragrant flavor that is not overwhelming. You can also find lavender whipped cream in this Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake recipe.
Lavender Drinks
My favorite way to welcome lavender season is with this Traditional Lavender Milk Tea. Warm and comforting for cool mornings or relaxing evenings, it is truly a celebration of the lavender season. And for a dinner party during the season, make a batch of Lavender Lemon Drop Martinis.
(PS. Love growing herbs? You might like 20 Recipes To Use and Preserve Lavender, 25+ Best Fresh Mint Recipes or 20 Best Parsley Recipes!)
Pruning
Lavender does very well with pruning and if you prune it after flowering in spring (if it is the spring-flowering type eg. English) then you will likely get another flush of blooms in late summer or early fall.
For later blooming types (French or Spanish) it is still important to prune after flowering to maintain a compact full bush and extend the life of your plant by minimizing each years woody growth.
A general rule of thumb is to clip off ⅓ of the new growth. If needed, (for form or function) you can prune more as long as you only prune above where there is some green leaves growing.
Preserving
So, what should you do once you've harvested your flowers?
- Dry Them: Using your dehydrator or on very low in your oven. Once completely dried, they will keep in a sealed container for a long time although probably best within 6 months to 1 year. This is great for potpourri and to use in the below recipes once lavender season has passed and adding into baking, bath salts or other recipes.
- Lavender Extract: Ultra simple, just stuff clean fresh (or you can use dried) flowers into a sterile mason jar, pour vodka over to cover and store in fridge place for 2 weeks flipping jar over every day or two. If using fresh lavender, you must refrigerate it while steeping and strain it out so that it doesn't go bad, if using dried, you don't need to store it in the fridge and can let it steep longer if you like.
- Lavender Syrup: For my recipe I used 2 c sugar and 2 c water (equal parts) and 6 tablespoon fresh lavender flowers. Heat on medium until boiling and then turn down and simmer 10 more minutes. Let cool slightly and then strain into sterile mason jars or other glass bottles and refrigerate. Strained well, this will keep a couple of months in your refrigerator. This is crazy good and is great in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks alike as well as in baking (shortbread, cheesecake...), ice cream and more.
- Lavender French 75 - For a fresh take on the classic Champagne cocktail using this syrup, try my Lavender French 75. This is such a fun cocktail for a summer's eve or a bridal shower. Lavender has a lovely herbaceous flavour that keeps this from feeling to sweet.
- Lavender Chamomile Facial Cleansing Grains - With just 4 simple ingredients, make a calming facial cleanser with lavender and chamomile.
- Lavender Sugar - In my lavender lemon drop martini recipe, there is a delicious and stunning Lavender Lemon Sugar recipe that is really versatile. Use it to rim cocktail glasses, top cookies, sprinkle over any lemon cake and anything else that loves a sweet garnish.
- Make Your Own Herbes De Provence - A classic dried herb mixture containing simple herbs, highlighted with lavender. Herbes de Provence makes a delicious rub on pork, chicken and roasted vegetable dishes. This is a lovely herb blend to gift, poured into glass jars, labelled and tied with twine.
Gardeners Tip
If you have lavender growing in your garden, go take a look and try harvesting some when it is flowering. Use it fresh or dry it for later. It is easy and rewarding, you and your house will smell fabulous!
PS. If you want to preserve some but want something even more simple, just tie a bundle up and hang it upside down in a dry well ventilated area and voila!
Related Recipes
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Cheers friends! Sabrina
📖 Recipe
Lavender French 75
Ingredients
- 2 oz Lavender Syrup
- 4 oz Gin
- 6 oz Champagne
Instructions
- Into each of 2 champagne flutes pour 1 oz syrup, 2 oz gin and top with 3 oz champagne or other dry sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of lavender if available.
Nutrition
Isabelle @ Crumb
Great post! My garden is too shady for lavender, but I got some culinary-grade dried lavender as a gift and have been meaning to experiment with it. Your lavender syrup sounds like a perfect way to add a subtle hint of lavender... going to put it on my weekend to-do list (along with a celebratory cocktail to ummm... test... out the quality). 🙂
SabCurrie
Thanks Isabelle! The lavender syrup is surprisingly addictive, sweet with a hint of savoury, I highly recommend trying it!
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I absolutely love lavender, Sabrina - I enjoyed your post so much and I am excited to try new ways to preserve this lovely plant. I have made potpourri for years and years, lavender sugar and lavender biscotti but have yet to make a lavender extract or use it in a drink. Both your Lavender French 75 and your daughter's Lavender Latte Recipe sound wonderful! Thank you so much for such a detailed and enjoyable article about my favourite flora - lavender. Cheers!
SabCurrie
Thanks Denise! Isn’t lavender the best?! So versatile 💜 cheers!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I've never used lavender in recipes, but you have some helpful tips here! And that cocktail sounds amazing. It would be perfect for a spring brunch!
SabCurrie
Thanks Leanne! Lavender is surprisingly versatile in recipes including savoury ones. I sometimes use lavender in place of rosemary in meat dishes. Have a great day 🥂
Colleen
This is a great post, Sabrina. We live in the Okanagan, & our property has so many lavender plants that are natural to here. I'm used to preserving and using it in recipes. and It's great to see some new interest in this beautiful, amazing, herb.
SabCurrie
It is one of my favourites truly. Do you have any more fave ways to use it?
Donna
What a lovely post. Lavender is one of my favourite scents. Really looking forward to trying out your preservation tips!
SabCurrie
Thank you, I hope you love them as much as us. Lavender is so lovely on its own but also such a versatile herb for cooking and baking too.
Kattie Gonnella
bookmarked!!, I love your blog!
SabCurrie
Thanks so much Kattie! I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Cheers!
Sana Simpson
Great ideas! Just not sure what measurement you are using in the syrup - is the C for cup or for centilitre?
Sabrina Currie
Hi Sana, I’ve used cups. I am in Canada and we generally use imperial measurements for cooking and baking.
Adri
I think the French are the best in preserving the lavender fragrance.
More than 10 years ago I bought many bags with lavender in Grasse (where they make perfumes) and Montélimar, Even now after all those years they have lost nothing of their smell.
Sabrina Currie
France is an amazing place for lavender. My time in Provence has inspired my lavender gardens here. A wonderful memory and a place I hope to visit again, but until then, I'll be enjoying my homegrown lavender. (A few tips for keeping your own fresh and bright smelling after drying: Keep out of direct sunlight, keep it in a dry spot and keep unused dry lavender sealed in a tin or sachet.)