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Calming Lavender Lemonade

The idea of using Lavender as a culinary herb seems a little odd at first, but this aromatic herb has been used in this way for centuries. The famous herb blend "Herbs de Provence" contains a small amount of Lavender and is used ubiquitously in French cuisine. Used correctly, Lavender adds a subtle floral note that can be very refreshing. Make sure to use organic Lavender since a lot of the Lavender that is sold is not suitable for consumption due to pesticide use.

I discovered Lavender Lemonade during a well-deserved spa break recently, and was so impressed that I tried making it at home. The wonderful thing about this lemonade is the way that the lavender changes it into a beautiful pink color. Here is my version of this refreshing drink.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup of dried Lavender flowers
  • 1 pint of water
  • 1 cup of agave sweetener (or 3/4 cup of sugar)
  • 8 lemons
  • Approximately 4 cups of cold water

Directions

  1. Infuse the Lavender with the boiling water. Allow to steep for about 10 minutes before straining out the Lavender and discarding it.
  2. Mix the agave sweetener or sugar into the hot Lavender infusion, then pour into a serving pitcher.
  3. Add 1 tray of ice cubes.
  4. Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the pitcher, getting as much juice as you can.
  5. Add the 4 cups of cold water- or enough to suit your taste.
  6. Adjust water, lemon or sugar if desired.

Note: If you do not have enough lemons you can cheat by adding the rinds from the squeezed lemons to your hot Lavender infusion. Be careful not to use too much rind as it may impart a bitter taste. However, a small quantity of rind will extract a wonderful lemon essence and the beneficial compound, limolene, which has been studied as a protective agent against skin cancer.

Perfect for a sunny day!