Lavender Varieties that are Edible The great thing about English Lavender is every variety can be used for cooking. Some varieties are more sought after than others, but all of the around 100 varieties in the Lavandula Angustifolia species are considered edible lavenders.
Can you cook with any kind of lavender?
I repeat: Not all lavender should be used in cooking. Though most lavender is technically safe to eat, culinary lavender is typically cultivated from Lavandula angustifolia plants (commonly known as English or “true” lavender) and has a lot less oil than the aromatic lavender used in perfumes or soaps.
Is any lavender not edible?
Lavandins (L. x. intermedia) is edible, as is all lavender, but its flavor can be resinous and pungent. A Lavandin type will make a dish taste bitter.
How do you pick lavender for cooking?
If you’re cooking with fresh lavender, pick it as close to mealtime as possible (or cut and place in a jar of water until ready to use). What is this? To dry lavender, cut it from the bush just before the buds open (when they open, fragrance is lost and the flowers become more fragile).
Can you use any type of lavender for tea?
Most lavenders (and hybrids) will work fine for tea, but some like the Spanish Lavender (stoechas: the ones with the flowers shaped like pineapples with the bunny ears on top) are too strong for most culinary applications.
Which variety of lavender is edible?
The Quick Answer. The best lavender to use for cooking is lavender from the species: Lavandula Angustifolia. Any cultivar within this species will taste best for cooking. Some cultivars in this species that are favorites for cooking include Royal Velvet, Folgate, and Melissa.
Can you cook with English lavender?
English lavender is often used as a culinary herb. English lavender is often used as a culinary herb. Savor lavender in the kitchen as well as the garden. Many species and hybrids can be drafted for use as a culinary lavender.
Can lavender be poisonous?
Lavender oil is generally not poisonous in adults when breathed in during aromatherapy or swallowed in smaller amounts. It may cause a reaction in children who swallow small amounts. The major effects are due to allergic reactions of the skin.
What is the difference between lavender and English lavender?
Both lavender varieties have a lovely scent, but to a well trained nose, it’s easy to spot the difference. English lavender is much lighter and sweeter than French lavender because it has less camphor, a chemical with a piney, woody scent.
Can you eat lavender from the garden?
Yes, you can eat lavender! Lavender is an herb just like rosemary and thyme and you can eat lavender in endless dishes, drinks and sides!
Do you have to dry lavender before cooking with it?
Drying lavender is only necessary if you want to keep the lavender flowers around long term. It is a method of preservation, not a requirement for use. In fact, you can cook with lavender as soon as it is picked if you like. The floral flavor is much more mellow at this point, but it is extremely aromatic.
Can you cook with Spanish lavender?
What type of lavender isn’t good for culinary? We don’t recommend eating the ornamental lavender varieties like lavandula stoechas (or “Spanish” lavender) lavandula dentata, or the intensely camphorus lavandula lanata (or Spike lavender.) Again, they won’t hurt you, but they won’t taste good.
Does lavender regrow after harvest?
Harvesting lavender flowers in the early spring will give the plant ample time to produce another flush of blooms to enjoy again in the late summer to fall.
Which lavender plant is medicinal?
Lavandula angustifolia
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
English lavender is the preferred medicinal variety heralded by herbalists everywhere.
Can English lavender be used for tea?
Lavender tea is an herbal tea (also known as a tisane) made by steeping dried lavender flower buds in water. It’s a caffeine-free drink. There are over 40 species of lavender and the English and French species are the most commonly used to make lavender tea.
Which variety of lavender is best for tea?
Betty’s Blue (L. angustifolia) – nice gentle lavender flavor and dark bud. Melissa (L. angustifolia) – wonderful flavor in desserts and teas.
Is super blue lavender edible?
Lavender – Dry, Super Blue
This culinary lavender is a delicate herb whose dried buds are used to bring flavor and freshness to a variety of dishes. Use in fresh spring vinaigrettes and mild marinades.
Is there a difference between lavender oil and lavender essential oil?
Lavender oils are simply perfume oils that are unlikely to contain any beneficial properties that are found in lavender essential oils. Lavender oil is not even derived from a lavender plant.”
Can I eat French lavender?
All types of lavender are safe to eat, including French lavender. If you plan to cook with lavender, purchase culinary grade lavender if you aren’t growing it yourself. You can use dry or fresh lavender in cooking, but use moderate amounts so the flavor doesn’t overpower the dish.
How do I identify English lavender?
Look for purple flowers from the beginning to the end of summer. Lavender’s flowers rise into the air like a spike, consisting of several light to deep purple petals. Certain varieties may include flowers that open up, while others resemble a pine cone.
Are all lavender seeds edible?
While English lavender is the most revered for cooking, all lavenders are edible. If you can grow only one type and need a multipurpose lavender, purchase Spanish or French lavender seeds. In the kitchen, you may need to take the characteristics of these nontraditional cooking lavenders in mind when following recipes.