Lavender Lemonade

Finding Summer

“And he lay in the sun warmed sand, counting the waves.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We’ve been having a coastal heat wave. When it warms to eighty and above we fog dwellers start complaining about the heat. Our houses and wardrobes aren’t equipped. Then and only then, do we speak with pride and reverence about the coastal fog. We wait for the fog to return and drink ice cold drinks to replenish the moisture our bodies crave. We drink lemonade–homemade lemonade with lots of ice and a touch of lavender.

Last summer was such a blur. This year, I am determined to find it, pull up a chaise lounge and soak it all up. I am not budging until I climb over the fog bank and dive head first into all the season has to offer. One of my current obsessions is lavender. My fascination took me to the Paseo Robles Lavender Festival. Then I went to Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley for their lavender harvest. I spent the afternoon immersed in harvesting, handling, breathing and eating lavender. When John Russo of Carmel Valley Lavender was distilling fresh lavender into essential oil the steam was lavender scented. Janna Jo Williams of Earthbound Farm taught us how to make lavender wands and scooped packages of dried buds for us to take home. During the middle of the afternoon I realized how relaxed I had become. All the stress and anxiety of the previous week vanished. I thought it might be my imagination, but the next day when I felt the dread of Monday seeping in, I dabbed the essential oil on my neck and wrists and soon was calmer. Now I’m planning on exploring the benefits of other essential oils too.

Essentials

I learned that culinary lavender is usually a variety of English lavender which is milder and sweeter than the more intensely scented lavender varieties used for distilling into oil. Fresh or dried buds of any variety of lavender are edible. Organically grown would be the best choice for kitchen use. This recipe makes concentrated lemonade that is diluted to drinkability when poured over ice. The finished flavor will vary, not only with the amount of ice, but with the individual intensity of the lemon juice and lavender used in the recipe. Fill a tall glass with ice add Lavender Lemonade and let the summer daydreams begin.

	Ingredients
3C	water
2C	sugar
1T	culinary lavender
2C	fresh lemon juice
1	lemon, thinly sliced and seeds removed
6-12	fresh lavender sprigs

1. To make the simple syrup, pour the water and sugar into a medium size saucepan. Stirring occasionally, cook on medium-high heat just until the sugar dissolves. The simple syrup will be clear when ready. Remove the simple syrup from the heat and stir in the lavender. Let the lavender steep for at least thirty minutes while the mixture cools.
2. Strain the cooled simple syrup into a large pitcher. Add the lemon juice and stir. Add ice and lemon slices to the pitcher. Fill glasses with additional ice and then the Lavender Lemonade. Garnish with lemon slices and lavender sprigs.