What Does Lavender Taste Like? Flavor, Uses and Safety
taste

What Does Lavender Taste Like? Flavor, Uses and Safety

What Does Lavender Taste Like? A Complete Guide

Lavender is an aromatic herb that many people enjoy for its floral fragrance. But beyond its pleasant smell, lavender also has a distinctive taste. So what does lavender taste like?

The Flavor Profile of Lavender

From my experience of cooking with lavender, the taste of lavender can vary greatly depending on the variety and how it’s prepared, but some tasting notes commonly used to describe it include:

  • Floral – The floral aroma translates into a light, perfume-like flavor
  • Sweet – Lavender has a mildly sweet, honey-like taste
  • Herbaceous – As an herb, it unsurprisingly has an herbal, plant-like quality
  • Woodsy – Some varieties have a more woody, almost pine-like flavor
  • Citrus – There are subtle lemon/citrus notes in some lavender culinary varieties
  • Pungent – The taste can be quite strong from the essential oils, especially if eaten raw

How the Taste Changes with Cooking

Lavender buds and flowers can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. How it is prepared makes a difference in how pronounced and enjoyable the flavor is:

  1. Raw lavender – Eating fresh lavender buds right off the stem provides the most potent floral taste, which can be overpowering for some. The flavor is extracted best when gently cooked.
  2. Infusions – An easy way to incorporate lavender is through infusions in liquids like tea, lemonade, and even cocktails. This allows the floral aroma to shine through without the bitterness.
  3. Baked goods – The sweet flavor of lavender complements baked goods like scones, cookies, cakes, and custards. Baking helps mellow out the pungent oils.
  4. Savory dishes – Lavender beautifully enhances herb blends for savory rice, meat, fish, or vegetables when gently cooked or fried.

What Does Lavender Tea Taste Like?

One of the most popular ways to experience the lavender flavor is in tea. As an herbal infusion, lavender tea allows the floral aroma to come through beautifully.

From my experience drinking lavender tea, the flavor is sweet and fragrant, like smelling a vase of fresh lavender flowers. There can be grassy, herbaceous notes as well from the green leaves and stems. Iโ€™ve found English lavender varieties like Munstead and Hidcote make the best tasting teas.

The floral sweet taste is quite calming and pleasant to sip in the evening. Lavender tea tastes wonderful on its own or pairs nicely with a bit of honey or lemon added.

What About Lavender Lemonade?

Similar to lavender tea, lavender-infused lemonade allows the floral flavor to shine through the citrus base. The combination of floral and citrus is absolutely divine!

From situations where Iโ€™ve ordered lavender lemonade from cafes or made my own at home, the predominant flavors are bright, sweet lemon and fragrant lavender. Imagine like smelling a vase of fresh lavender and lemons together. The balance can vary from mostly lemony with a hint of lavender to being a perfectly even mix of both.

Iโ€™ve found that using dried culinary lavender buds makes the prettiest pink-hued lavender lemonade as well. For the best flavor, go light on the lavender compared to the lemon so the citrus remains bright.

Does Savory Lavender Dishes Work?

While lavender is more commonly used in sweet foods and beverages, it can make for an intriguing ingredient in savory dishes too when used properly.

The key is not to use too much as the potent floral flavor can easily overwhelm. Start with just a teaspoon or two mixed into a marinade, herb crust, or compound butter. Some delicious ways to cook with dried or fresh lavender include:

  • Rubbing poultry, lamb, or pork chops with dried lavender before grilling or roasting
  • Mixing fresh lavender into compound butters for seafood
  • Infusing into oil or vinegar for salad dressings
  • Sprinkling over egg, rice, grain, and vegetable dishes

In these applications, lavender adds a pleasant herbal flavor and unique floral aroma. Just take care not to overdo it or it may taste soapy. Start small and add more as needed.

Tips for Cooking with Lavender

While many people find the floral, herbal taste of lavender to be pleasant and calming, too much lavender flavor can be overwhelming and even unpleasant.

Here are some tips on how to cook with lavender to make delicious dishes vs. ones that taste like soap:

  1. Use culinary varieties – Be sure to only cook with approved culinary lavender like Munstead, Hidcote, and Grosso which have better flavor.
  2. Use dried vs. fresh – The dried buds tend to be more mellow in flavor than the fresh flowers.
  3. Start with small amounts – It’s easy to add more lavender later but impossible to remove it.
  4. Gently heat or infuse – Extracting lavender’s oils and flavors through infusion or gentle cooking is best vs. raw.
  5. Pair with sweets and lemon – Lavender complements citrus, honey, and vanilla beautifully.

Following these tips, you can end up with delicious lavender-infused dishes ranging from sea salt brownies to lavender crusted chicken. Experiment and see which type of lavender recipes you enjoy most!

Is Eating Lavender Safe?

Many people enjoy using culinary lavender to add flavor and fragrance to baked goods, drinks, and even savory dishes. But is consuming lavender completely safe?

According to most sources, lavender is considered safe for consumption when used in normal food amounts.

Culinary varieties like English Lavender ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ have a more pleasant, milder flavor suitable for cooking compared to ornamental varieties. Stick to these cooking-friendly types of lavender.

Eating lavender may cause issues for some people who are prone to allergic reactions or have sensitivities to certain herbs and flavorings. Discontinue use if any irritation occurs.

As with many herbs and essential oils, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to exercise caution before consuming large amounts. Also be aware that lavender may interact with certain medications like sedatives.

When unsure, itโ€™s always best to consult your doctor before adding regular amounts of lavender to your diet or taking it as a supplement.

So go ahead and try baking lavender cookies, whipping up refreshing lavender lemonade, blending floral lavender butter, or experimenting with lavender in your favorite savory dishes! With proper precautions and culinary varieties, lavender is a fun, safe way to add exceptional flavor and delightful aroma to foods and drinks.

Key Facts About the Taste of Lavender
Type of Lavender Floral Taste Notes Other Taste Notes
English Lavender Sweet, floral, perfume-like Slightly bitter, pungent
Spanish Lavender Mildly floral, sweet Mildly spicy, herbal
French Lavender Bright, clean floral notes Lemony, citrus undertones
Lavandin Strong camphorous scent Harsh, bitter taste

FAQ

What does lavender taste like?

Lavender has a floral, slightly sweet taste with notes of citrus and herbs. The flavor is aromatic and pleasant, though can be strong if too much is used in cooking or baking. Lavender pairs well with lemon, roses, honey, and berries.

What foods pair well with lavender?

Lavender complements both sweet and savory dishes. It goes well with lemon, honey, berries, cream, and herbs like rosemary and thyme. Lavender adds flair to desserts like shortbread, ice cream, and scones. It also livens up savory foods like salad dressings, soups, and roasted vegetables.

Is it safe to eat lavender?

Yes, culinary-grade lavender is generally recognized as safe for consumption by the FDA. However, the flowers must be free of pesticides or chemicals. Do not eat lavender growing in the wild as it may have been exposed to contaminants from animals, insects, or the environment.

What are some classic lavender dessert recipes?

Some popular lavender desserts include:

  1. Lavender shortbread cookies
  2. Lavender lemonade or iced tea
  3. Lavender cupcakes or cake
  4. Lavender ganache or buttercream
  5. Lavender macarons
  6. Lavender ice cream or gelato

Lavender also works nicely in fruit desserts featuring berries, stone fruits, and citrus.

What drinks pair well with lavender?

Lavender’s floral aroma and taste make it a delightful addition to many beverages, including:

  1. Lavender lemonade, iced tea, or Arnold Palmer
  2. Lavender martinis
  3. Lavender hot chocolate
  4. Lavender mojitos
  5. Lavender coffee or lattes
  6. Sparkling wine or champagne with lavender essence

Lavender soda water, cocktails, infused water, tea, and milk/non-dairy milks also make good carriers for lavender’s flavor.

What savory foods work well with lavender?

Beyond sweets, lavender can enliven many savory dishes like:

  1. Salad dressings and marinades
  2. Soups like chicken, vegetable, or cream-based
  3. Roasted vegetables, mushrooms, or meats
  4. Compound butters for bread or seafood
  5. Risotto, pasta, or gnocchi dishes
  6. Herbed goat cheese or ricotta

In general, lavender pairs nicely with chicken, citrus, herbs, honey, and vegetables.