Whole dried culinary lavender flowers, lavanda, for tea

How to Make Lavender Tea: The Method, Why a Pinch Is Plenty, and What to Pair It With

By Suhail Rivera, JD, founder of Alkaline Herb Shop

To make lavender tea, add 1 tablespoon of culinary dried lavender flowers to 8 ounces of boiling water, cover, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then strain. Lavender is bold, so start light and steep to taste rather than overdoing it. The rest of this guide covers why a pinch goes so far, what to pair it with, and how to use it beyond the teapot.

How to make lavender tea, step by step

  1. Add about 1 tablespoon of culinary dried lavender flowers to an 8 ounce cup.
  2. Pour boiling water over them.
  3. Cover and steep 3 to 5 minutes. Taste as you go, because a long steep can turn it soapy.
  4. Strain and drink.

Why a pinch is plenty

Lavender is one of the boldest flowers you can brew. A little carries a lot of perfume, and too much tips a lovely floral cup into something that tastes like soap. Start with less than you think, steep briefly, and add more next time if you want it stronger. This is the single most useful thing to know about brewing it.

What to pair with lavender

Lavender and chamomile are a classic soft, floral pairing for the evening. It also brightens a cup of spearmint, and if you like it sweet, a little maple syrup or agave suits it. Because these are culinary flowers, they go well beyond tea too.

Lavender in the kitchen, and iced lavender lemonade

These are food grade flowers, not potpourri, so they are ready to cook with. Steep them into a simple syrup for lavender lemonade, fold a pinch into shortbread or baked goods, or infuse them into a cold pitcher of lemonade over ice. A little is plenty here too.

Does lavender tea have caffeine?

No. Lavender is naturally caffeine free, which makes it a favourite evening cup.

What is lavender, or lavanda?

Lavender is the fragrant purple flower of Lavandula, called lavanda in Spanish. Ours are whole organic or wildcrafted culinary flowers from France, dried and loose, with nothing added. We make no health claims for it. Enjoy it for its beautiful aroma, in the cup or the kitchen.

Who should not drink lavender tea

  • Do not use it during pregnancy or while nursing.
  • It is not recommended for anyone under 18.
  • If you have a medical condition or take prescription medicine, speak to your doctor first.

How to store dried lavender

Keep it sealed and away from heat and light to hold the fragrance. Kept dry and closed, the flowers stay good for a couple of years.

Suhail Rivera is the founder of Alkaline Herb Shop, which sources and sells the lavender flowers described in this article.

Suhail Rivera

Suhail Rivera

Suhail Rivera, JD, is the founder of Alkaline Herb Shop. She has spent years sourcing, handling, and selling the herbs she writes about, working directly with growers and third party testing labs. She holds a Juris Doctor. She is not a medical professional, and her articles are for general information, not medical advice. Read more about her and the store on the About page.