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It's raspberry season and we had to make up a fun cocktail to celebrate!  Raspberry Lavender Lemonade Spritzer 1 cup raspberries 1 Tbsp water 1/2 cup Lavender Lemonade 3 cups seltzer water 3 shots Raspberry Vodka (Adult version) 1 shot Lavender Simple Syrup Lavender Cocktail Pick (garnish) In a small saucepan add raspberries and 1 Tbsp water. On medium heat bring raspberries to a simmer. Continue a low simmer until raspberries break apart about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and strain off seeds. You can do this by using a back of a spoon to squeeze the raspberry mush to release the juice. Set aside. In a large glass measuring container add lavender lemonade, stir in seltzer water and cooled raspberry juice. Add vodka and serve in a glass with ice. Garnish with raspberries, lemon and lavender cocktail picks. Cheers! 
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Beat the heat with this fun Tea Frappuccino. The delightful flavor of both lavender and rose is dreamy for those who love the sweet floral flavor!  Lavender Rose Tea Frappuccino 1 1/2 cups milk of choice 4 tsp Lavender Rose Tea 3 Tbsp creamer or cream 1 Tbsp Lavender Simple Syrup 4 cups ice Lavender Cocktail Pick (garnish) Heat milk up in a small saucepan on medium high heat to just below a simmer, remove from stove and add tea. Let tea steep in milk for about 5 minutes and strain tea. In a blender add your ice, cooled infused milk tea and lavender simple syrup. With a tamper blend until smooth. Pour into some glasses and garnish with a rose and lavender cocktail pick.  In love with Starbuck Matcha Lemonade....well we had to do our own version. Check out this Match Lavender Lemonade with double layers for the full effect. Simply stir and sip...delicious!  Matcha Lavender Lemonade 1 cup water 4-6 Tbsp lavender lemonade mix (to taste) 1/2 cup water 2 tsp matcha powder 2 tsp lavender simple syrup (optional) for more lavender & sweetness Ice Lavender Cocktail Picks (garnish) To make add 1 cup water and lavender lemonade stirring to combine and set aside. In a separate container combine matcha powder and 1/2 cup water whisking to combine and set aside. Fill glasses up with and ice and pour glass 3/4 full with lemonade if you want layered look slowly add matcha to top of lavender lemonade. When ready to serve give it a little stir with your paper straw and sip. If you want it sweeter or more lavender flavored add a little lavender simple syrup to taste. Don't forget to garnish it with lavender cocktail picks and a wedge of lemon. Enjoy!  Culinary Lavender is preparing to flower here in the Pacific Northwest and I want to equip you on how to harvest, dry, debud, use lavender in cooking and how to store your culinary buds for an amazing lavender season!  June Begins Lavender Season in the Pacific Northwest!
I’m getting giddy in anticipation of lavender season. I begin the countdown as our lavender is beginning to turn its shades of purples and blue. Today I want to to give you the information you would need to gather from your garden or a local u-pick lavender farm your very own culinary lavender. I’ll share with you a quick and simple, “how to guide” on how to harvest, how to dry bouquets, how to prepare it for food and even how to keep it fresh. But first a little fun history- Lavandula Angustifolia, also known as English lavender, is the varietals you will use for your culinary adventures in the kitchen. This sweet floral herb has been used historically for medicinal purposes as well as beloved flavor in cooking. Lavender was made popular by Queen Elizabeth who valued lavender conserve on her morning toast, used as lavender tea medicinally for her migraines and minor ailments and was known to use lavender oil daily as her perfume of choice. So now that you know a little bit of fun history you too can harvest your own culinary lavender to use as medicinal tea, or in various recipes and so much more….just as Queen Elizabeth did and so many others before her. So let’s get down to the basics so you will be prepared. When to harvest You will want to harvest for your culinary lavender when your lavender stalks have about 2 flowers open. The flowers opening signals to us that the plant is mature and can hold its stems straight. It also lets us know that the lavender oil has reached the flower buds for a quality lavender culinary bud. As we all know when you cook with lavender you are using the bud, not the bloomed flower. How to dry it After cutting your lavender place a rubber band around your stems. Hang upside down for 1-2 weeks or until has dried. We use the “snap test” to ensure the lavender is dry. To do this you will bend one of the stems of lavender, if it snaps you know it is red, if it is pliable it will need more time to dry. How to prepare-fresh or dried Lavender can be used fresh or dried. When using fresh the general rule of thumb is one tablespoon of fresh herbs to one teaspoon of dried herbs. How to remove the lavender buds from the stems To remove the buds from the stem you can roll the bouquet between your hands over a bowl. The buds will fall off into the bowl. We like to sift the buds to remove any dust particles, pick out and remove any dried leaves and then place into a spice jar or small clean glass jar. How to adapt your own recipe Lavender is a fabulous companion to desserts, but you can also substitute culinary lavender in place of rosemary in your favorite recipes. How to keep it fresh Lavender once dried is like the other herbs in your cupboard. You will keep them away from direct light and stored in an airtight container to retain color and flavor. It is recommended you use it within a years time. It will last much longer, but will lose some flavor as time goes by. If you’ve read this far and think….love all of that but…ummm, don’t want to do all that! No worries we are stocked up on culinary lavender in our shop and you get that here! If you need more recipe ideas check out our blog/recipe section and if you use this information to harvest your own culinary lavender we love when people share with us at #norwoodlavenderfarm! |
AuthorI am Nicole Callen, lavender lover, farmer, and owner of Norwood Lavender Farm. My intention for this page is to bring you great lavender related content that you can use. Most of it contains culinary adventures that transpire in my kitchen, as I have a love for the complex floral flavor and depth that lavender brings to cooking. 
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Norwood Lavender Farm
norwoodlavenderfarm@gmail.com
503-334-8999
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