Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
A super easy, mild and refreshing drink with the very flavours of summer! What’s a British summer without the scent of lavender floating in the air with the constant hum of bees caressing these purple beauties? And let’s not forget the fluttering butterflies of many hues flitting in and out.
Having a lavender plant or two in your garden is one of the best ways of attracting these flutterbys and helping nature in your own little way.
I adore lavender; its fragrance is mysterious, soothing and intoxicating. We always have a bottle of pure essential lavender oil at home, to place a drop on pillows at night or to soothe burns and regenerate skin. Mixed with pure essential oil of Frankincense in a neutral base, lavender is a powerful healer and regenerative oil.
Today’s recipe, Lavender, Lemongrass and Ginger Spritzer, is another drink that has been waiting in the wings this summer. In my last book, Ramadan Recipes – A 7 Day Meal Plan, I had a drink recipe for Lime and Ginger Spritzer.
The ginger syrup in that recipe makes a great base for all sorts of concoctions and is just asking to be played with. I love using flowers in the kitchen and have, for ages, wanted to create more Lavender recipes, so when I was recently asked for one, I figured no time like the present!
My last lavender recipe was the Lavender and Sumac Roast Chicken, a beautiful play between the sweet of the lavender and the contrasting sour of the sumac.
Lavender is sweet but very potent, a little goes a long, long way, so we always use a light touch. If in doubt on the amount, always go conservative. And the strength of the lavender is in its bouquet, in the perfume that it imparts into your recipe, not so much the flavour.
In this Lavender, Lemongrass and Ginger Spritzer, I’m pairing the sweet lavender with the warm, spicy and pungent ginger, (although its pungency is tempered somewhat because of the cooking), a contrast that works rather well, if I may say so myself. Then to complement this twosome (I’ve heard that threesomes are rather fun!), I felt that lemongrass would do nicely, with its sharp, citrusy and a touch of sweet constitution, bringing it all together to form a seamless whole.
The result? A harmonious blend of flavours and aromas that first tickles, then pleasures your senses.
As you bring the glass to your lips, the lavender takes centerstage, delighting your sense of smell with its summer sweet fragrance.
As you take a sip, the ginger and lemongrass just nudge the lavender aside gently as all three make their glorious presence be savoured – sweet aroma and spicy and citrusy flavour, one after another, yet all at once! Imagine that!
And as the drink effortless glides down your throat, the lavender’s delicate perfume is eclipsed by the boldness of the ginger with the lemongrass playing an exquisite second fiddle.
Are you feeling it yet?
But hold on to your horses! A couple of things to note before we get to the recipe:
Buying Culinary Lavender
A word about buying your edible flowers, and especially lavender, which is so easily found growing everywhere in the summer. Always buy the organic, culinary variety. Not just organic, make sure it says culinary or edible.
The term organic is sometimes too loosely used, in my experience. I’ve always grown my lavender and as I don’t use pesticide in my garden, have always just picked the flower buds straight from the plant. But as I found out recently, dried culinary lavender is now so easily found in the UK, most of our larger supermarket chains do them.
Dried Lavender to Fresh Lavender Conversion
Dried is always more potent, so use one third dried lavender buds to 1 portion of fresh. That means 1 teaspoon dried lavender = 3 teaspoons fresh.
Can you spike this recipe?
Mais bien sûr! Cointreau comes to mind, as does vodka. And gin – definitely gin! What else can you think of that would be good? Let me know in the comments below!
For more drink recipes, check out the Drinks Page for recipes like:
Lavender, Lemongrass and Ginger Spritzer
Ingredients
- Ginger and Lavender Syrup recipe below
- 1 litre (4 cups) COLD Sparkling/Soda water
- Ice cubes as needed
- 4 stalks fresh lemongrass
Ginger and Lavender Syrup
- 200 g (1 cup) white sugar
- 125 ml (½ cup) water
- 120 g (4 oz) fresh ginger
- 2 tsp dried culinary/edible lavender
Instructions
The Ginger and Lavender Syrup
- No need to peel the ginger, just scrub the skin clean with a vegetable brush and grate or chop finely in a chopper.
- If you have a pestle and mortar, lightly crush the lavender buds to release their essential oils and aroma. If you don’t, making sure that your hands are clean, lightly crush the buds between your fingers or in your hands.
- Place everything into a small pan and bring to a boil.
- Simmer for 10 minutes on the lowest heat to allow the flavours to develop and the syrup to thicken.
- Strain and discard the ginger pulp.
- Cool to room temperature, cover and leave somewhere cool until needed. No need to place in the fridge.
The Lavender, Lemongrass and Ginger Spritzer
- Rinse the lemongrass stalks and bruise them. That means, using the back of a big knife, pound down on the base (the thick part) of the lemongrass, to release the flavour, aroma and essential oils.
- Divide the ginger and lavender syrup amongst 4 glasses.
- Place 3-4 ice cubes in each glass.
- Top up with the sparkling water.
- Place a lemongrass stalk in each glass, stir to infuse, then serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Carbon Footprint
Lin xx
This is my kind of drink. I love the flavors of lemongrass and ginger together I’m sure it’s delicious with a touch of lavender. I’m looking forward to trying it.
Both lemon grass and ginger are ok to include in drinks. Love drinking my water with lemin grass. And my tea with ginger
I’ve never thought of adding lavender into a drink before, but it looks great! I will have to try it!
I bet this smells good! This is perfect for our tropical country. So refreshing! I have to make some this weekend for the fam <3
Thanks for sharing!
Lemon grass is healthy and I love drinking it too. Maybe I should try this one. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
This looks really good! I can not wait to try it!
I used to not really care for. Lavender. Now I love it so much. It is so very soothing.
This sounds absolutely delightful and a perfect option for summer. I think I’ll try it out this weekend!
I have to admit that I have never heard of a drink like this at all. It certainly is interesting to say the least.
Seems like a naturally refreshing drink! Not sure if I could down lemongrass though, lol.
I love to put lavender on my pillow at night, but to be honest, I’ve never tasted it. The recipe sounds simple and I do want to try it. The drink sounds refreshing! I always have a drink with me wherever I am.
I would be okay with something like this maybe minus the lavender. I’m just not too sure. Is it a strong taste?
This combination of flavors is really new to me but it looks like it would be something I could give a shot. You never know until you try.
I have never thought about putting lavender into a drink before but this looks great. I will have to give it a try.
OH WOW! That sounds absolutely amazing! I can almost taste it – right now!
Thank you so much for the helpful tips on getting culinary type. That’s not something I may have thought of!
Wow! I’m sure that smells just as good as it tastes with the lemongrass and the lavender. It’s the perfect drink during the summer as well, very refreshing!
I would have never of thought of mixing leongrass with lavender but I feel like they would compliment each other well.
Oh, this is very timely. We had a hot weather here and this drink sounds so refreshing.
This recipe looks amazing! I’ve never tried edible lavender before and this seems like a perfect first time
Am a bit skeptical about the lavender infuse drink.. Im good with lemon grass and the rest though.
There is only one way to cure that skepticism!
There is only one way to cure that skepticism!
There is only one way to cure that skepticism!
This is what I want right now for this weather! I have to try it.
This sounds lush. I love lavender, and recently discovered it in food, so this is something I would love to try.
I love things made with lavender. I used to grow it in my yard but unfortunately it didn’t survive the flooding we had in October.
This sounds refreshing! I need to pin this to make at our next brunch
I just learn what lemon grass looks like. This drink sounds refreshing.
It sure is, thanks Tara!
Ok, here is the truth. I must be the only living person who can not tolerate the aroma or taste of lavender. And it is everywhere!
Haha, not an easy thing to escape in the summer!
Such a delicious and refreshing drink Azlin.. i need one glass now:)Thanks for the great tips regarding how to buy edible flowers..very useful
Thank you Shubha!