French Lavender Lemonade
When Life Gives You Lavender, make French Lavender Lemonade.Â
We live in an old neighborhood with mature trees clustered about, and homes dating back to the 1890’s.
My house is on the main drag through our neighborhood. It is a fairly busy street in our bustling pedestrian community. We get all the action right outside our windows. Runners, dog-walkers, strollers, bikers, the 4th of July parade, the Halloween extravaganza… It all happens directly in front of my house.
Therefore, I find my next door neighbor’s children quite brilliant to make a tradition of selling lemonade on the street corner throughout the summer.
My neighbor told me her boys have made as much as $180 selling their lemonade on a Saturday. I couldn’t believe it at first. Such a huge profit for two little boys, from lemonade!?!
Then, I tasted their brew and the answer was clear. Superior Lemonade.
This is no powdered lemon-drink they are selling! The boys use freshly squeezed organic lemon juice and lavender.
No wonder they can charge a $1 a cup of this blessed beverage. My neighbor claims the boys make the lemonade on their own, but I find that highly suspect. *wink*
Fresh French Lavender Lemonade is the perfect beverage for summer. It’s light and tangy with a delicate floral essence.
The lavender leaves are steeped in a simple syrup to extract the essence. Because the leaves are removed before the lemon juice and water are added, the flavor comes off as very mysterious and highly complex.
I’m giving you the French Lavender Lemonade recipe as a double batch, because I guarantee one small pitcher’s worth will not be enough. Once you taste this lemonade, you’ll understand!
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French Lavender Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 cups water, divided
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup lavender leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 9-11 lemons
- Ice
- Fresh lavender sprigs for garnishing
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, combine 5 cups of water, with sugar and lavender leaves. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir and cover. Then remove from heat and allow the lavender to steep until the mixture returns to room temperature.
- Squeeze the lemons, and removing any runaway seeds. When the lavender simple syrup has cooled, strain out the lavender leaves. Pour the syrup, lemon juice, and another 5 cups of water into a large pitcher.
- Add ice and garnish with delicate lavender sprigs!
This was THE BEST lemonade! And so easy! The lavender was subtle but perfect! I will definitely make this again.
 I want to make this but I cannot find the actual recipe!Â
Hi Stephanie,
SO sorry about that! I’m not sure what happened, but the recipe is back up. My apologies!
Fantastic! I used half the amount of sugar and everyone who tasted it found it quite sweet. I’ll use even less sugar next time as the people who visit my house tend to be anti sugar but I loved how easy and delicious this recipe was!
Where can you buy fresh lavender sprigs typically?
Some grocery stores have them, but you could always buy a plant and use it all season. You can also find dried culinary lavender buds at speciality stores.
I adore lavender. This lemonade sounds delicious. Going to pick some right now!
My husband just trimmed back the lavender! I’m making lavender lemonade! Thanks!
I was expecting there to be lavender essential oil involved. I wonder what it would do to the blend just one or two drops?? :-)
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Lemon juice and rind are used to make marmalade and lemon liqueur. Lemon slices and lemon rind are used as a garnish for food and drinks. Lemon zest, the grated outer rind of the fruit, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice and other dishes.,..-..
http://caramoan.coBest wishes
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You made me smile when you wrote about Asheville. Seems that I always choose the right day to check your newest updates (granted I'm behind today). Good lemonade is hard to find so only for that I love this post and using the quintessential French touch -lavender !! Going to try this this weekend.
I love beverages like this for the summer…something a little more interesting than plain lemonade or iced tea.
This sounds amazing. I love lavender and am always looking out for new ways to use it in recipes. Such an unusual idea: thanks for sharing it.
hopeeternal
'Meanderings through my Cookbook'
http://www.hopeeternalcookbook.wordpress.com
It is like a grown up lemonade! That would be perfect for a tea party.
I wish I could grow lavender here :( The idea of a lavender scented lemonade is brilliant.