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Updated July 2026
We recently purchased a bargain-size package of culinary lavender on Amazon. Our intent was to make lavender tea,* which we consume by the potful.
When a very large pouch of lavender arrived, we had to figure out what to do with all of it. We didn’t want to go the high-calorie dessert route—lavender pound cake, crème brûlée, ice cream, panna cotta and so forth.
So lavender iced tea was a no-brainer (the recipe is in the *footnote). Then we turned to lavender lemonade, a lovely gourmet twist.
It’s easy to keep both of them low-calorie with a non-caloric sweetener.
Below:
> Lavender lemonade recipe.
> Recipe variations and garnishes.
> Lavender simple syrup recipe.
> Make lavender water and its health benefits.
Elsewhere On The Nibble:
> The history of lemonade.
> The history of lemons.
> The different types of lemons: a photo glossary.
> How to add spicy heat to lemonade.
> The different types of sugar and other sweeteners: a photo glossary.
> The year’s 14 lemon holidays.
August 20th is National Lemonade Day.
RECIPE #1: LAVENDER LEMONADE
When we made a four-cup version of this recipe, all the lemonade was gone in a minute. So this larger recipe makes a bit more than a gallon, or 16 eight-ounce servings—two 64-ounce pitchers.
Ingredients
3 cups sugar (or make the recipe sugarless and sweeten to taste)
1 tablespoon culinary lavender (culinary lavender is pesticide-free)
2-1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 15 lemons)
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[1] Make lavender-infused lemonade for a gourmet twist (photo © The Nibble).
[2] A bunch of dried organic lavender makes lavender tea and lavender garnishes (photo © Ines Iachelini | Unsplash).
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Preparation
1. BOIL. Boil one gallon of water plus the sugar in a large saucepan.
2. INFUSE. Add lavender and simmer for 15 minutes. If you don’t want to strain it out, place the lavender in a mesh spice ball/tea infuser.
3. ADD. Cool to room temperature. Add lemon juice, strain out lavender and chill.
VARIATIONS
Substitute 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 5 limes) for 1/2 cup lemon juice. Replace 3 lemons with 5 limes.
Substitute fresh basil, lemon thyme or mint for the lavender.
Use honey instead of sugar.
Turn some of the tea into ice cubes so you don’t dilute the flavor with ice.
For a party, use whole sprigs of culinary lavender for garnish.
Tips
For a zero-calorie drink, use non-caloric sweetener.
For a low-glycemic drink, use agave nectar.
You can also use this recipe to make lavender limeade.
Varying the garnishes makes the recipe “new” each time (see next section).
A shot of vodka or gin turns lemonade into a splendid cocktail.
Garnishes
Cucumber ribbons or thin slices.
Edible flowers: borage, chamomile, pansy, rose petal.
Floral ice cubes.
Fresh berries: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries.
Fresh or dried lavender sprigs (culinary lavender/organic lavender).
Herbs: basil, mint, or rosemary.
Lemon or lime wheels, slices, twists, or candied peel.
Sparkling garnish: small rock-candy stick or edible shimmer sugar.
Sugar rim: lemon sugar, lavender sugar, or a mix of both around the glass rim.
[3] There are lavender farms all over America. Check to find the nearest one to visit. This is Hambly Lavender Farm in San Miguel, California, where you can pick your own lavender (photo © Hambly Lavender Farm).
RECIPE #2: LAVENDER SIMPLE SYRUP
You can make lavender simple syrup in advance; then, just spoon it into unsweetened lemonade or iced tea. You get both sweetener and lavender flavor at once!
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons dried lavender buds
Preparation
1. COMBINE the water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves.
2. ADD the lavender buds and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain out lavender and let the syrup cool. Keep in a tightly-capped jar (no refrigeration needed) and use it to sweeten plain iced tea, hot tea, unsweetened lemonade and cocktails.
3. CONSIDER making extra bottles to give as gifts.
MAKE LAVENDER WATER, TOO
You can also flavor water with lavender. Simmer the lavender in water for 15 minutes, cool and refrigerate.
Lavender-infused water has a sophisticated, floral flavor profile with zero calories or sugar. In addition to being a refreshing drink, lavender water is a:
Relaxant. Lavender is well-known for its ability to help lower cortisol levels. The scent alone can trigger a relaxation response in the brain, making infused water a great option for unwinding after a long day or reducing mild anxiety. It may help you fall asleep faster and improve the overall depth of your rest.
Digestif. Lavender has been traditionally used to soothe digestive issues such as bloating, gas, or an upset stomach. Its antispasmodic properties can help relax the muscles in the digestive tract.
Anti-inflammatory. Lavender contains polyphenols and other antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress. While more research is needed on the water infusion specifically, these compounds generally support immune health and reduce inflammation.
Skin beautifier. Hydration is essential for clear skin, and the antimicrobial properties of lavender may also provide a small boost in managing skin clarity.
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*Lavender tea recipe: Steep lavender to taste with the tea leaves; start by making just one cup of tea with 1/4 teaspoon per 6 ounces of water, and adjust to strength to taste with a subsequent cup).
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