Lavender Simple Syrup

This lavender simple syrup uses dried lavender flowers for an easy and delicious sweetener. It's perfect for lemonade, herbal tea, and cocktails!

Lavender.

It's one of my favorite scents in the universe.

It also happens to be delicious.

That's right, the extra-fragrant flower isn't just pretty, it's edible!

One of my favorite ways to cook with lavender (or any fragrant, edible plant) is to make lavender simple syrup.

Some of my other favorite straight-from-the-garden syrups are mint simple syrup, citronella simple syrup, honeysuckle simple syrup, and ginger simple syrup.

Where Can I Get Dried Lavender for Simple Syrup?

Grow + Dry Your Own Lavender

Are you growing lavender in your garden? You can harvest your own lavender for this syrup!

Make sure to avoid using pesticides on your lavender plant throughout the growing season.

When you're ready (or rather, when the plant is big enough), cut it back and hang the lavender to dry. When it's dry, use your hand to slide the flowers off the stem.

If you're not growing your own lavender, you can still make this syrup!

Buy Dried Lavender

Dried lavender is easy to find in the grocery store. Look for it next to the dried herbs.

You can also buy dried lavender online.

Make sure to only buy culinary or food-grade dried lavender.

In other words, don't buy lavender from the arts-and-crafts section at the store. Non-culinary-grade lavender may have been treated with pesticides that you don't want to ingest.

How to Make Lavender Simple Syrup

All you need is dried lavender, plus equal parts sugar and water.

Start by adding everything to a small pot, and bring the water to a boil. Lower the heat slightly, and simmer for about five minutes.

Next, strain the syrup through a mesh sieve.

I use an oversized mesh tea ball.

Bottle the syrup or store it in small mason jars.

This syrup is delicious in drinks.

It's perfect for sweetening herbal teas, like this fresh mint tea or catnip tea.

I love it in this lavender lemonade, strawberry lavender lemonade, and this bourbon sour with lavender.

Basically, it's delicious with any type of lemon flavor.

I also love it paired with berry, like in this sweet berry granita.

Enjoy this sweet flavor of spring and summer, and let me know if you've got a favorite way to use this syrup!