Lavender Lemonade Floral Beverage (Printer-friendly)
A floral twist on classic lemonade featuring homemade lavender syrup for a refreshing summer beverage.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Lavender Syrup
01 - 1 cup water
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
→ Lemonade Base
04 - 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
05 - 4 cups cold water
06 - Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
07 - Fresh lavender sprigs for garnish (optional)
08 - Ice cubes
# How-To Guide:
01 - Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat, stir in dried lavender, and let steep for 15 minutes to infuse the floral flavor.
02 - Pour the lavender mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all lavender buds. Allow the strained syrup to cool to room temperature before using.
03 - In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice, cooled lavender syrup, and cold water. Stir thoroughly until all components are well blended.
04 - Taste the lemonade and modify the flavor balance as needed by adding more water for mellowness, additional syrup for sweetness, or extra lemon juice for tartness.
05 - Add ice cubes to the pitcher. Pour over ice in individual glasses and garnish with fresh lemon slices and lavender sprigs if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way the lavender hits your nose before the tartness wakes up your taste buds
- It turns an ordinary afternoon into something that feels like a spa day
- Perfect for those moments when regular lemonade just feels too basic
02 -
- Regular lavender from craft stores or florists is not edible and can make you sick
- The longer lavender steeps, the stronger and potentially soapy it becomes
- This lemonade actually tastes better after it sits for an hour in the refrigerator
03 -
- Lightly crush the dried lavender between your fingers before adding it to release more oils
- Let the syrup steep covered so the volatile oils do not evaporate with the steam