The Ultimate Guide To Growing And Using Lavender In Drinks
An aromatic spin on the classic gin and tonic, a lavender infused gin cocktail is one of the well-known specials on a bartender’s menu during spring weather. Lavender tea, lavender infused simple syrups and lavender garnishes are often incorporated into multiple cocktail and mocktail variations to bring lots of floral embellishments into blends.
The scent of the flower builds into the aromatic profile of drinks too, imbuing into them a complexity as a result of this floral touch. Lavender infusions also bring a similar layer of floral tastes into drink blends, giving them a subtle yet flavourful depth.
For a bartending and gardening enthusiast, planting lavender in one’s kitchen garden or backyard can be an interesting activity. With this, it would be possible to pluck the flower fresh off the plant for incorporating it into drinks. One can also dehydrate the flowers to use them as garnishes or floral adornments in several cocktail and mocktail concoctions.
Tips For Growing Lavender At Home
Choose A Culinary Variety
One of the first elements to look out for while planting lavender in the garden is to pick the culinary variety of the flower. With this, it would be possible to use these edible flowers in drink recipes in myriad ways.
English lavender is a type of the flower that can be grown at home and put to use in one’s mixology recipes. This plant is hardy and thrives well in different climes.
It can also be grown indoors, which is beneficial for those who have created a small garden patch on a window sill or in an indoor setting in the drawing room.
Water And Sunlight
Lavender plants require ample sunlight to grow in a healthy manner. Place the potted shrub beneath a window if it is kept indoors, so lots of light can filter inside.
While planting the flower shrub in a backyard garden, reserve a small patch which gets lots of good sun without the light rays becoming too harsh. As well, lavender prefers slightly dry soil so water the plant sparingly. Always check the soil’s moisture content before watering to prevent it from becoming over wet.
Regular Pruning
Another gardening tip essential for ensuring healthy growth of the lavender bush is regular pruning. In late spring, once the flowering season has gone by, prune the plant to about a third of its size for promoting plant health and nourishment.
When flowers bloom and are ready to be harvested, snip the stalks slightly above the foliage to ensure the plant can keep on growing at a good speed.
Lavender In Drinks
Lavender Infused Tea
One of the simplest and perhaps most common ways to incorporate lavender in drinks is in the form of tea infusions. Brew an aromatic lavender tea by placing dried lavender flowers in boiling water so they release their fragrance.
This freshly brewed tea can be added to different floral aperitifs or spritzers and topped off with about 45 ml champagne or prosecco to bring in a fizzy touch to the drinks.
Dried Floral Garnishes
Dehydrated lavender flowers carry a very beautiful finish which can be used to adorn different gin or vodka-based spring drinks. Dried lavender also carries a pleasing aroma that builds into the overall depth of the cocktail or mocktail blend.
Floral garnishes also bring a touch of whimsy and drama to blends. Lavender blossoms can be dried and preserved in clean mason jars to be used as garnishes across changing seasons.
Lavender Bitters
Another clever way to incorporate a subtle but effective flavour of lavender into cocktails is in the form of bitters. The flower can be muddled with lemon peels or chamomile to release its scent before infusing it in high-proof alcohol for several days for all the flavours to come together appropriately.
These infused bitters can be used to prepare lots of different cocktails like a lavender sour or old fashioned for building complex aromas and floral flavours into these blends.
Drink responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
