Tips on Using Lavender • Lavender Recipes

tips and lavender recipes

 

Tips on Using Lavender

What is Our Lavender?
Our organic lavender is an English variety, Lavandula angustifolia, grown in the sun-drenched fields of France. This fragrant, narrow-leafed plant is native to the Mediterranean and is beloved for its calming and aromatic properties.

When you purchase our lavender, you're getting the finest dried lavender buds. Lavender flowers are typically dried before they open, creating small, fragrant buds about the size of a grain of rice. Our lavender is always freshly harvested, ensuring a potent scent that will last for a long time.

Grades of Lavender
We offer two grades of lavender to suit different uses:

  • Crafting Grade Lavender: This variety features a lovely blue/grey color and the classic lavender scent we all know and love. The flavor has a slightly pine-like, sharp note, making it perfect for when fragrance is more important than color.

  • Culinary Grade Lavender: A premium AAA grade with vibrant blue/purple buds. This lavender has a stronger, traditional fragrance and is ideal for cooking, flavoring, or when both color and scent are key.

Storing Dried Lavender
To preserve your lavender buds, store them in an airtight container—glass jars work beautifully! Around the farm, we use vintage blue Ball Mason jars because we love the charm and utility they bring. Any airtight container will suffice. Keep your lavender away from heat, light, and moisture, and it will stay fresh and fragrant for years to come (though it’s hard to say how long you’ll be able to resist using it!).

How We Measure Lavender
We sell our lavender by weight, not volume, for better consistency and value. When buying bulk herbs like lavender, it's more reliable to buy by weight—this way, you’ll know exactly what you're getting.

An ounce of dried lavender isn’t the same as a cup, and measurements can vary greatly depending on the type of measuring cup and how packed the herbs are. That’s why we use the industry-standard weight system.

Lavender Measurement Guide
Here’s a quick reference for how much lavender you’ll get in different amounts:

  • 1 ounce: Slightly less than 1 U.S. dry measuring cup, fills a 3x5 muslin bag.
  • 4 ounces (1/4 lb): About 113 grams, fills a pint canning jar.
  • 8 ounces (1/2 lb): About 236 grams, fills a ½ gallon canning jar or a pint-sized zip-top bag.
  • 16 ounces (1 lb): About 453 grams, fills a gallon canning jar or gallon-sized zip-top bag.

If you need help estimating how much lavender you need for a project, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’ve been working with lavender for over 40 years and are always happy to assist!

How Much Lavender Do You Need?
Here are some guidelines for common uses:

  • Wedding Toss: For 40 guests, we suggest 2 pounds of lavender—roughly 2 handfuls per person.

  • Sachets: A 3”x5” muslin bag will hold about 1 ounce of lavender. We recommend filling your sachet a bit more than ¾ full to allow the buds to move around and release their scent. Lavender’s scent is gentle, so infusing it with essential oils can enhance the fragrance.

  • Heat Pads: For a blend, use ¾ buckwheat hulls, ¼ flax seed, and a few tablespoons of lavender (or another herb). Be mindful that too much lavender in a heat pad can make the scent overwhelming, and it can fade with time.

As always, feel free to reach out if you need guidance or more information on using lavender in your projects!


 

 

Recipes....

lavender cookie recipe

Lavender Cookies

 

  • Total Time
    Prep: 30 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

  • Makes
    about 6 dozen

    Ingredients
    • 1/2 cup butter, softened
    • 1/2 cup shortening
    • 1-1/4 cups sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
    • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 4 teaspoons dried lavender flowers (our 1 oz sample bags are a good choice)
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

     

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 375°. Cream butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk flour, lavender, baking powder, and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
    • Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2" apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray.
    • Bake until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

     

     

    organic lavender lemonade recipe

    Lavender Lemonade

     

  • Total Time
    Prep: 10 min. + standing
  • Makes
    6 servings












    Ingredients
    • 6 to 7 cups water
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1-1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 6 large lemons)
    • 1 large lemon sliced to float in pitcher and glasses
    • 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers (our 1 oz sample bags are a good choice)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Ice cubes

     

    Directions

    • Bring 2 cups water and sugar to a boil. Remove from the heat; add lavender. Cover and let stand for 2-4 hours.
    • Strain, discarding lavender. Stir in lemon juice, vanilla, and remaining water. Chill- serve over ice.
    Nutrition Facts

    1 cup: 139 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, 37g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.