Get ready to sip on sunshine with this beautiful and Refreshing Lavender Lemonade! This easy homemade recipe infuses the classic tartness of lemonade with the delicate floral aroma of lavender, creating a truly unique and sophisticated beverage. I absolutely love the subtle floral notes and the gorgeous pink hue that appears when you mix it all together – it feels like a little bit of magic! This Lavender Lemonade is incredibly fun to make and the perfect light, refreshing drink for warm spring days (like today, April 27th!), summer parties, baby showers, or anytime you want a special non-alcoholic treat.
Why You’ll Love This Lavender Lemonade
- Unique Floral Flavor: A delightful twist on classic lemonade with subtle lavender notes.
- Beautiful Color: The natural color change when adding lemon juice is fun to watch and results in a pretty pink hue.
- Refreshing & Light: Perfectly balanced between sweet, tart, and floral – ideal for warm weather.
- Easy to Make: Simple steps involving making a lavender infusion and mixing lemonade.
- Impressive for Entertaining: Looks elegant in a pitcher and is always a conversation starter.
Ingredients for Lavender Lemonade
Here’s what you’ll need to make this beautiful floral lemonade. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Boiling water (Liquid)
- Dried lavender (Culinary Grade) (Herb/Flavoring)
- White sugar (adjust to sweetness preference) (Sweetener)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice (Acid)
- Cold water* (Liquid) (For dilution)
Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh lemon slices
- Fresh lavender sprigs
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I adore the delicate flavor of this Lavender Lemonade, but here are some variations:
- Sparkling Lavender Lemonade: Substitute sparkling water or club soda for some or all of the cold water for a fizzy version.
- Honey Lavender: Use honey instead of white sugar for a different flavor profile (dissolve it in the warm lavender infusion).
- Berry Lavender: Muddle a few fresh raspberries or blackberries in the pitcher before adding the cold water.
- Other Herbs: Add a sprig of fresh mint or rosemary along with the lavender during the steeping process.
- Make it Boozy: Add 1-1.5 oz of gin or vodka per serving for a delightful adult cocktail.
How to Make Refreshing Lavender Lemonade
Making this beautiful Lavender Lemonade is easier than you might think:
Make the Lavender Infusion/Syrup
- First, I bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan or kettle.
- I pour the boiling water into a heatproof bowl or back into the saucepan (off the heat). I add the dried lavender buds and stir well.
- I reduce the heat to low (if using a saucepan) and let the lavender simmer gently for 5 minutes to infuse its flavor and color.
- Next, I strain the lavender infusion through a coffee filter or a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into another bowl or directly into my serving pitcher. This ensures no gritty bits are left behind. The infusion will likely have a surprising blue-green color at this stage!
- While the infusion is still warm, I add the sugar (starting with ½ cup and adding more later if desired) and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. This creates our lavender simple syrup base.
Combine the Lemonade
- Now for the magic! I slowly pour the freshly squeezed lemon juice into the warm lavender syrup/infusion. I love watching the color magically change from blue-green to a beautiful pink!
- I add the cold water to the pitcher until I have about 12 cups total liquid (or adjust the amount of cold water based on how concentrated you like your lemonade).
- I stir everything well to combine.
Chill and Serve
- Chill thoroughly
- Serve over ice
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Lavender Lemonade
Here are my secrets for making perfect Lavender Lemonade:
- Use Culinary Lavender: Make sure you’re using dried lavender specifically meant for cooking and consumption, not lavender treated with pesticides or intended for potpourri.
- Don’t Over-Steep: Simmering the lavender for about 5 minutes is usually sufficient. Steeping too long can sometimes result in a slightly bitter or soapy taste.
- Strain Well: Use a fine-mesh sieve or coffee filter to remove all the lavender buds for a smooth lemonade.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice! Bottled juice doesn’t compare in flavor.
- Adjust Sweetness: Start with less sugar (½ cup) and add more dissolved sugar syrup after tasting if you prefer a sweeter lemonade.
- Chill Completely: Lavender lemonade tastes best when thoroughly chilled.
How to Serve
This Lavender Lemonade is perfect served chilled over ice! Enjoy it:
- On a Warm Day: The ultimate refreshing and elegant thirst quencher.
- For Parties: Serve in a large glass pitcher for baby showers, bridal showers, garden parties, or brunches.
- As a Special Treat: A lovely non-alcoholic option that feels sophisticated.
- Garnished: Add fresh lemon slices and a fresh sprig of lavender to each glass for a beautiful presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: You can make the lavender simple syrup (steps 1 & 5 in How-To) up to 1-2 weeks ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The fully mixed lemonade is best enjoyed within 3-4 days.
- Storage: Store leftover Lavender Lemonade in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator. Stir well before serving again.
FAQs about Lavender Lemonade
- Where can I find culinary lavender?
- Look for it in the spice aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, at specialty food stores, farmer’s markets, or online from reputable herb suppliers. Ensure it specifies “culinary grade.”
- Will my lemonade be purple?
- No, the lavender infusion typically starts blue-green and turns pink when the acidic lemon juice is added, due to the natural pigments (anthocyanins) reacting to the pH change.
- Can I use lavender essential oil?
- NO! Do not use lavender essential oil meant for aromatherapy. Only use dried culinary lavender buds intended for consumption.
Enjoy this unique, refreshing, and beautifully hued Lavender Lemonade! It’s a delightful taste of spring and summer.
Print
Lavender Lemonade
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Lavender, lemonade, Summer
- Cuisine: American
Description
This lavender lemonade recipe is fun to make and the perfect light and refreshing drink for summer! Features a beautiful lavender-infused simple syrup combined with fresh lemon juice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
- ½ – 1 cup granulated white sugar (adjust to desired sweetness)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 4–6 lemons)
- Approx. 9 cups cold water (to make 12 cups total lemonade)
- Ice cubes, for serving
Optional Garnishes:
- Fresh lemon slices
- Fresh lavender sprigs
Instructions
- Make Lavender Infusion: Bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, add the dried lavender, and stir well. Let the lavender steep in the hot water for 5 minutes.
- Strain Infusion: Strain the infusion through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter (recommended for catching all small bits) or just a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl or directly into your large pitcher. Discard the lavender solids. The infusion may have a blue-green color.
- Add Sugar: Add the desired amount of sugar (starting with 1/2 cup and adding more if needed) to the hot strained lavender infusion. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let this lavender syrup cool slightly.
- Combine Lemonade: Slowly pour the fresh lemon juice into the lavender syrup mixture in the pitcher. Watch for the color change to pink!
- Add Cold Water: Add enough cold water to the pitcher to reach a total volume of 12 cups (about 9 cups of cold water). Stir well to combine.
- Chill: Refrigerate the lemonade until thoroughly chilled (at least 1-2 hours).
- Serve: Serve the lavender lemonade chilled over ice. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and a sprig of fresh lavender, if desired.
Notes
- Lavender: Ensure you are using culinary grade dried lavender suitable for consumption.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of sugar based on your preference and the tartness of your lemons. Start with 1/2 cup and add more if needed after dissolving and tasting.
- Straining: Using a coffee filter inside a fine-mesh sieve ensures the clearest possible infusion, free from small lavender bits.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the best flavor.
- Storage: Store leftover lavender lemonade covered in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Stir before serving.