The great thing about English Lavender is every variety can be used for cooking. Some varieties are more sought after than others, but all of the around 100 varieties in the Lavandula Angustifolia species are considered edible lavenders.
What type of lavender is edible?
Lavandula angustifolia
The best tasting edible lavenders are the ones with the sweetest perfume. English lavender is extremely popular as a culinary lavender. This is normally sold as Lavandula angustifolia, but it’s sometimes sold as Lavandula officinalis or Lavandula vera. Occasionally it’s listed as “true English lavender.”
Can you eat any lavender plant?
Yes, you can eat lavender! Lavender is an herb just like rosemary and thyme and you can eat lavender in endless dishes, drinks and sides! In this area, there are two main types of lavender: x. intermedia and Angustifolia.
Are any lavender plants poisonous?
Lavender plants are generally non-toxic in nature, however, if sufficient quantities of the vegetation are consumed, it can result in dangerous intestinal blockages.
How do I know if my lavender is edible?
Lavandins (L. x. intermedia) is edible, as is all lavender, but its flavor can be resinous and pungent. A Lavandin type will make a dish taste bitter.
How do I know what kind of lavender I have?
Simply use your nose and eyes to identify lavender plants. Identify English lavender (L. angustifolia) by its sweeter fragrance with less of a camphor odor. You can also identify English lavender by its bloom period, which begins in early summer.
Can I use lavender from my garden to cook?
Though most lavender is technically safe to eat, culinary lavender is typically cultivated from Lavandula angustifolia plants (commonly known as English or “true” lavender) and has a lot less oil than the aromatic lavender used in perfumes or soaps.
Can eating lavender make you sick?
When taken by mouth: Lavender is commonly consumed in foods. It’s possibly safe when taken as medicine. Side effects might include constipation, diarrhea, and headache.
What type of lavender is used for tea?
Lavandula angustifolia plant
Lavender tea is made by brewing the purple buds of the Lavandula angustifolia plant with hot water. This tea is thought to calm nerves, lead to better sleep, improve skin health, and provide many other benefits, though research is scarce and mostly focuses on lavender extracts.
What is the difference between French and English lavender?
French lavender is large and will grow from about 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) tall and wide, while English lavender stays much smaller and more compact, although it may grow up to 2 feet (61 cm.). Bloom time. The flowers on these plants are similar in size, but they last much longer on French lavender.
Is lavender flower poisonous to humans?
Oral use of lavender may cause constipation, headache, and increased appetite. Lavender oil is toxic if taken orally. Some people may develop an allergic reaction to lavender. Nausea, vomiting, headache, and chills have also been reported in some people after inhaling or absorbing lavender through the skin.
Can we drink lavender tea?
Drinking lavender tea is a great way to induce relaxation and unwind after a tough day. It’s packed with healthy compounds that can boost your immune system and alleviate pain by reducing inflammation. Drink lavender tea from flowers in your own garden or opt for pre-dried batches from your favorite tea seller.
Is French lavender toxic?
Is Lavandula stoechas poisonous? Lavandula stoechas can be toxic.
What parts of lavender are edible?
Lavender is a unique herb in that every part of the plant—bud, stem, and leaf—can be used in cooking. While the lavender flowers and leaves can be used fresh, the buds and stems can be used dried. Since the lavender flavor intensifies when the herb is dried, the dried buds should be used sparingly.
What do you do with fresh picked lavender?
Fresh, cut lavender bunches can be put in a vase of water for 2-3 days. They will last up to 10 days in water, but if you want to dry the bunches, remove from water after 3 days, cut off brown parts of the stem and hang to dry.
How do I prepare lavender for cooking?
If you’re cooking with fresh lavender, pick it as close to mealtime as possible (or cut and place in a jar of water until ready to use). What is this? To dry lavender, cut it from the bush just before the buds open (when they open, fragrance is lost and the flowers become more fragile).
What is the difference between English lavender and lavender?
The major difference between English and French lavenders is that English lavenders will tolerate snow, ice and frost in winter and live for many years (cold hardy up to USDA zone 5).
Which is the strongest smelling lavender?
With one of the strongest fragrance among Lavenders, Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ is a vigorous grower which produces exceptionally large and rich, deep violet flower spikes up to 6 in.
Do you use lavender leaves or flowers?
Both lavender leaves and flowers can be used for a number of different purposes on the homestead! Use lavender leaves for tea, use lavender essential oil to relax, or use it to attract pollinators! Lavender is one of the budding herbalists’ best friends.
What are the different types of lavender?
LavenderLower classifications
What can I do with dried lavender leaves?
Even More Uses for Lavender Leaves
You can use the infused oil to make lip balms, bath bombs, lotions, creams, and soap. Or, try including the dried leaves in bath teas or home cleaning recipes. (Like these Herbal Scouring Powders.)
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.