Wondering what lavender tastes like? Below, we’re covering lavender taste, cooking tips, baking recipes and more.
Let’s get started…
What Does Lavender Taste Like?
When tasting the purple buds on a lavender stem, the strong, sweet-smelling perfume will hit you first. On the tongue, it’s as floral as it smells, very fresh and light.
Though not very sweet in taste, lavender is neither bitter nor particularly savory, either. It’s a bit of a cross between a rose and the herb rosemary with elements of mint and bright citrus.
What Type of Lavender is Edible?
When selecting lavender for eating, choose by fragrance. The sweeter the lavender smells, the more tasty it will be.
Some lavenders are more popular than others to eat. Lavandula angustifolia, or English lavender, is most commonly sold as a garden or kitchen herb as it’s one of the sweeter, more aromatic lavenders. Just make sure it’s grown for food purposes and not by a florist.
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Can You Eat Lavender from the Garden?
If you have some lavender growing in your garden, you may be tempted to snip some for your herb collection, and you may certainly do so. Any lavender may be consumed as long as they are grown for food purposes and use food-safe pesticides.
Some lavenders—like those sold for culinary purposes—are tastier than others. This is why you’ll see some lavenders sold for cooking and some sold for decoration.
Can Lavender be Eaten Raw?
Lavender can be used in your cooking and baking, but it can also be eaten raw. Fresh lavender buds are perfectly suited to salads and raw desserts.
Fresh lavender is softer in flavor than dried lavender, which is very potent indeed. As a general rule, dried lavender is best for cooking and baking while fresh lavender may be used in uncooked meals.
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Lavender Serving Tips
So what can you do with lavender? Most people’s go-to recipes involving lavender are sweet, citrusy and fruity to complement the flowery, lemony taste in lavender. However, lavender also does well in some savory dishes, including tangy vegan cashew cheeses and creamy sauces. Check out the videos below for a few samples of vegan eats and drinks with lavender.
Got a brunch party coming up? In this video, you’ll see all the steps for making vegan lavender lemon pound cake with the usual flour, baking soda, vegan egg replacer and vegan butter plus fresh lemon zest and dried lavender.
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This video demonstrates the making of raw vegan blueberry lavender ice cream with no refined sugars. It’s got coconut, avocado, lavender and blueberries as well as a few specialty ingredients like Irish moss gel and licorice powder. Feel free to get creative with your lavender vegan ice cream ingredients, however. That’s half the fun.
If you have a bag of lemons, some cane sugar and dried lavender, you can make this refreshing lavender lemonade. Use a splash of sparkling water for a fun, bubbly drink.
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Wrap up
Lavender is strong in floral scent and flavor, somewhere between sweet and herbaceous with mint, citrus and rosemary. From savory vegan cheeses, to thirst-quenching beverages, to scrumptious desserts, lavender is a lovely flavor to add to your culinary repertoire. And it’ll impress your friends and family, too.
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
