You want to avoid most other lavender species due to their camphor content. This includes Lavandula Stoechas (often found at home depots and Costcos), Lavandula Latifolia, and Lavandula X Intermedia (AKA Lavandin). Other lavenders won’t hurt you but they will make your food taste soapy or perfumy.
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.
Is any lavender 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.
How can you tell if lavender is edible?
Look for pink-flowering ‘Rosea’ English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’) or ‘White Ice’ (Lavandula angustifolia ‘White Ice’) for unusual bloom colors with a milder, almost candy-like flavor. Lavandins (Lavandula x intermedia), which are hybrids of English lavender, also make wonderful culinary lavenders.
Which lavender variety is edible?
There are hundreds of varieties of lavender, but many are specifically grown for their excellent oil properties, not for eating. The best edibles are English lavender varieties (Lavandula angustifolia) like Hidcote, Munstead, and Lady. You can use lavender in sweet and savoury dishes, but there is an art to it.
Is all lavender food grade?
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.
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.
Can I use lavender from my garden to cook?
Lavender is a unique herb in that every part of the plant—bud, stem, and leaf—can be used in cooking. While the lavender flowers and leaves can be used fresh, the buds and stems can be used dried. Since the lavender flavor intensifies when the herb is dried, the dried buds should be used sparingly.
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 your garden?
Lavender basics
Both the flowers and leaves can be eaten and have a pleasant yet slightly bitter flavor.
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.
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.
How do you make food grade lavender?
You’ll want to either grind the buds (perfect for mixing into sugar), or seep and strain them from a liquid (like in simple syrup or honey). 1 part fresh lavender buds = 1/3 part dried buds. Lavender is often mixed into Herbes de Provence, a blend of strong herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lavender).
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.
Can I eat Spanish lavender?
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.
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.
What parts of lavender are edible?
Lavender leaves are edible and very strongly flavored. If using the flowers, strip them from the spike, or use them whole. Dried lavender retains its aroma and flavor exceptionally well (like any woody herb) and lasts for many months in an airtight jar.
What are the different kinds of lavender?
LavenderLower classifications
Which lavender is best for tea?
Tips for Great Tea
Always use culinary grade lavender. Warm your cup up with a swirl of hot water before pouring your tea. Don’t use too much lavender or the tea will have a bitter flavor.
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.
Is lavender tea safe to drink?
Lavender tea is generally safe for most adults if consumed in moderation. However, if you drink too much of it, you may experience headaches, constipation, and an increased appetite (4).