There is a ritual at Wilder Farms in Baileys Harbor that begins as soon as the mornings turn cool. Someone puts the kettle on, someone else reaches for the jar of dried lavender from last summer's harvest, and within a few minutes the kitchen fills with a soft, floral steam. Outside, mist lifts off the fields and the first light catches the birch trees along the edge of the rows. Inside, we wrap our hands around warm mugs and take that first fragrant sip.
Lavender tea is one of the simplest pleasures we know. It needs only a few ingredients and a little patience, but there is an art to getting it right. Brew it well and it tastes gentle, sweet, and floral. Brew it badly and it can taste like soap. Here is our guide to brewing the perfect cup of lavender tea, from choosing the right buds to pairing it with other flavors.
Start With Culinary Lavender
The most important step happens before you boil any water. Not all lavender is meant for drinking.
Use culinary lavender only. Culinary lavender is grown and processed for food. It should be free of pesticides and chemical treatments, and it should be clean, dry, and stored properly. Dried lavender sold for crafts, potpourri, or sachets may have been treated or scented and is not safe to drink. At Wilder Farms, we grow without chemicals or pesticides, but we always set aside specific harvests for culinary use.
Choose true lavender. The best lavender for tea is Lavandula angustifolia, often called true or English lavender. It is naturally sweeter and lower in camphor, the compound that can make lavender taste bitter or medicinal.
From our fields, two varieties shine in the teacup:
- Melissa has a soft, delicate, slightly sweet flavor and is one of the gentlest lavenders for drinking. It is a favorite with first-time lavender tea drinkers.
- Hidcote has a deeper, classic lavender flavor with rich color. It brews a slightly bolder cup.
Lavandin varieties like Phenomenal are wonderful in sachets and cleaning blends, but their higher camphor content makes them too sharp for tea.
The Basic Lavender Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds (or 1 tablespoon fresh buds)
- 1 cup (8 ounces) freshly boiled water
- Honey or sugar, to taste (optional)
Instructions:
- Bring water to a boil, then let it rest for about 30 seconds so it is just below boiling.
- Place the lavender buds in a tea infuser, tea bag, or directly in a teapot.
- Pour the hot water over the lavender.
- Cover the cup or teapot to keep the fragrant steam from escaping.
- Steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Strain, sweeten if you like, and enjoy.
Tips for the Perfect Cup
Measure Carefully
The most common mistake with lavender tea is using too much. Lavender is potent, and a heaping tablespoon of dried buds will overwhelm a single cup. Start with one teaspoon of dried buds per cup. You can adjust from there once you know your taste.
Fresh lavender is milder than dried, so use about three times as much if you are picking straight from the garden.
Watch the Steeping Time
Steeping time is the second key to great lavender tea.
- 3 minutes gives a light, delicate flavor.
- 5 minutes gives a fuller, more floral cup.
- More than 7 minutes often turns lavender tea bitter.
Set a timer, especially the first few times you brew.
Cover While Steeping
Lavender's fragrance comes from volatile aromatic compounds that escape in steam. Covering your cup or teapot traps those aromas in the water, giving you a more flavorful brew.
Use Good Water
Fresh, filtered water makes a cleaner, brighter cup. If your tap water has a strong mineral taste, try filtered or spring water.
Delicious Lavender Tea Blends
Lavender plays well with others. Here are a few of our favorite combinations.
Lavender Chamomile
A classic evening blend. Combine half a teaspoon of lavender with one teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers. The chamomile adds a soft, apple-like sweetness that rounds out lavender's floral notes.
Lavender Mint
Bright and refreshing. Pair half a teaspoon of lavender with a teaspoon of dried peppermint or a few fresh mint leaves. Lovely hot or iced.
Lavender Lemon
Steep lavender as usual, then add a thin slice of fresh lemon and a drizzle of honey. The citrus brightens the floral flavor beautifully.
Lavender Earl Grey
Bergamot and lavender are natural partners. Add a pinch of lavender to your favorite Earl Grey tea and steep according to the black tea's instructions, usually 3 to 4 minutes.
Lavender Green Tea
For a gentle afternoon pick-me-up, combine a pinch of lavender with green tea. Use slightly cooler water, around 175°F, and steep for 2 to 3 minutes to keep the green tea from turning bitter.
Making a Lavender Latte
On cold Door County mornings, we sometimes turn our tea into a lavender latte.
- Brew a strong cup of lavender tea using 1½ teaspoons of buds and half the usual water.
- Warm and froth ¾ cup of milk or your favorite plant-based milk.
- Stir a teaspoon of honey into the tea.
- Pour the frothed milk over the tea and top with a few lavender buds.
For a London Fog twist, use Earl Grey tea with a pinch of lavender and a splash of vanilla.
Iced Lavender Tea
Summer in Door County calls for something cold. To make iced lavender tea:
- Brew a double-strength batch using 2 teaspoons of lavender per cup of hot water.
- Steep for 4 to 5 minutes, then strain.
- Sweeten while warm so the honey or sugar dissolves.
- Pour over a tall glass of ice.
- Garnish with lemon slices, mint, or fresh blueberries.
You can also cold-brew lavender by steeping a tablespoon of buds in a quart of cold water in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours. Cold brewing produces a softer, sweeter flavor with very little bitterness.
Storing Your Lavender
To keep your culinary lavender fresh and flavorful:
- Store it in an airtight glass jar.
- Keep it away from heat, light, and moisture.
- Use it within about a year for the best flavor.
Well-stored lavender holds its fragrance for months. When you open the jar, it should smell bright and sweet. If the scent has faded to dusty or dull, it is time for a fresh batch.
A Few Gentle Cautions
Lavender tea is enjoyed by many people, but it is wise to keep a few things in mind:
- Drink it in moderation, one to two cups a day.
- If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition, check with your healthcare provider before adding herbal teas to your routine.
- Never use lavender essential oil in tea. Essential oils are highly concentrated and are not meant to be swallowed.
Brewing Door County Into Every Cup
There is something deeply comforting about a cup of lavender tea made from flowers grown just down the road. Every sip carries a little of our fields: the lake breeze, the limestone soil, and the long July days when the rows turn purple.
Pick up our culinary lavender and other kitchen favorites at our shop in Ephraim, open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 to 5. For a calming evening ritual, pair your tea with something from our rest and relax collection, or light a candle from our lavender candle collection. Looking for a gift for a fellow tea lover? Our seasonal lavender gifts make it easy.
Questions about which lavender is best for your cup? Call us at 920-737-1531. We are always happy to talk tea.
