Introduction
Lavender. The name itself symbolizes purity of love, the color of beauty, femininity, and devotion. The look and fragrance of Lavender invoke even more beautiful feelings, with its tiny flowers looking vibrant and full of life. This garden herb is native to North Africa and the Mediterranean region and packed with all the essential and good nutrients.
The fragrance has a beautiful calming effect and so the oils are not just used in massages but also find use in other products like moisturizers, face creams, and more. Lavender tea is also used to help relieve pains, aches, and solve digestive disorders. I am sure you must have come across lavender soaps, bath bombs, and bedtime teas as well.
Why is lavender so important?
Everyone around us leads a busy life 9 am to 5 pm and Monday to Friday, sometimes even on weekends when we are somehow worked up. The stress of daily life, if not just work pressure, takes a toll on our minds and bodies. The stress will wear people down and over some time can also lead to health problems. In this fast age, when everyone is running around, everyone needs a calm moment that is not easy to find.
While you can meditate morning and night, it’s difficult to completely cool down your nerves while out at work. Even when at home, during weekends, you may feel the urge to relax and cool down your nerves. While massages will do wonders, you cannot do them every time and every place. This is where Lavender comes in handy.
What is lavender latte?
Lavender has been known for its calming properties for thousands of years. It’s a perfect medicine for today’s work-heavy life which is full of stress. Lavender is known to reduce the effects of sleeplessness, anxiety, and stress which most of us suffer from. The natural herb is a blessing in disguise and does not be carried away by just its beauties. Its medicinal properties are even more impressive.
As a routine, most of us consume caffeine in some way or the other daily, mostly in the form of coffee as it makes you feel more alert and less dull through the day, and also spiking your energy levels. All this can have a negative impact on your health because while you want all that alertness and energy, you do not want its side effects which can be being hyperactive, restlessness insomnia, anxiousness, jittery feeling, and nervousness. That’s why we introduce to you this beautiful concoction to care for the adverse effects of coffee.
Lavander advantages
Lavender will counteract the coffee and reduce its harmful effects and calm you down. It will gently balance the mild coffee flavor, the floral and nutty notes. So while you are still alert and full of energy, you will remain calm and in control all the while. This all-natural beautiful concoction is called the Lavender latte.
Lavender is an edible plant and flower, which releases all the beautiful contents once it is processed. Of course, you can use it as it is in any recipe, food, or drink, as content or garnishing as it simply looks superb and adds a floral aromatic element of beauty. However, for the best effect, it has to be properly processed.
Disclaimer: Bear in mind that you must use only food-grade certified Lavender for cooking. You can check the label on the lavender package for confirming this information.
Steps to make Lavender infused syrup
Do remember that the flowers look small and harmless but they are full of potent nutrition and aroma. So always try to use less amount of flowers for the purpose. You can buy edible dried lavender flowers from the grocery store or online. They can last a long time, so keep them in a cool dry place. Follow the steps given below to create the lavender syrup. The syrup is the most important part of the entire recipe, so pay careful attention to how it is made and follow them
Step 1
The thumb rule is you need 1 tablespoon for 1 serving of the lavender latte. Same holds well if you are making lavender tea.
Step 2
Collect 2 tablespoons of dried lavender flowers, 3/4th cup water, and 1 cup of fine sugar. Add the water to a saucepan and heat it up
Step 3
Add the lavender flowers to the water and let it boil. Once it starts boiling reduce the flame to a simmer for around 5-6 minutes. Keep stirring this mixture to ensure the flowers are softened. After 6 minutes remove the gas flame and let the mixture sit for a while and cool down gradually. This should take another 5-10 minutes depending on the room temperature. Once the water has turned Lukewarm, you are ready for the next step.
Step 4
Add all the sugar to the water and mix it until all the sugar has completely dissolved. To help dissolve faster and better, you can turn on the flame and keep it on simmer for a few seconds. Do not heat the mixture to simmer, otherwise, it may crystalize later.
Step 5
The key here is to let the lavender seep in the water for a long time, like 10 minutes or so. The longer it seeps, the softer the flowers will become, and the stronger will be the flavor and aroma.
Step 6
Syrup is now ready. You can strain the syrup to remove the flowers and store it in an airtight container.
Step 7
The heat is the important factor, more heat will literally cook the flowers and destroy the flavor. Make the lavender syrup in a small quantity when you do it first. If all goes well, increase the amount from the next time onwards. Remember the lavender syrup can last 2-4 weeks if stored correctly. For correct storage, store it in a sealed airtight container and keep it in the fridge in a cool and cry corner. This liquid is gold and can be used in a variety of recipes.
The Lavender latte preparation process
Details
- Course category – Beverage, coffee
- Cuisine category – American
- Preparation Time – 6 minutes
- Overall Time – 8 minutes
List of Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot coffee or espresso
- 1/2 cup milk low fat is perfect (use almond or soy milk for vegan)
- 1 tsp culinary grade lavender buds
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1 tsp honey optional
- garnish
- lavender buds and/or leaves
How to create froth manually
- Pour some milk into an airtight container or a jar. Close the lid and give it a vigorous shake that lasts a couple of seconds.
- Check every time for the froth created. Keep shaking vigorously until the froth is created. This takes some effort if you are not used to it.
- Once you have enough froth, and it depends on person to person, uncover the jar/ container and place it in the microwave.
- Set it to high and for 30 seconds. The microwave gives the froth a good texture and helps stabilize the froth. If not, the froth will disappear in a few minutes.
- You can use any type of milk, almond milk, or even soy milk for the purpose.
- Manual frothing is delicate and fickle. Sometimes it can fail for no reason, so try different types of milk. You can also try using a French press to create froth.
If you are aware, you would have notices that traditionally Lattes will not have froths. But we and a lot of people add them to this recipe as it looks good and creates a fun element. Also, the garnishing at the end with a few lavender flowers on top of the milky white froth looks amazing. So why not!
Also, we love the texture of the froth, so if you have a frother, make full use of it for quick and easy froth making. However, if you do not have one, just use our technique and you will be fine.
Instruction to make the lavender coffee
- Heat the milk. Heat the milk in a small saucepan if you do not have an espresso or a milk steamer, and heat over a medium flame. When you see bubbles forming, the milk is ready for the next step.
- Add the lavender syrup and honey (if using) and heat it up again until it comes to a gentle simmer. You can also let it sit in the microwave for 30-45 seconds for the same process. Let the mixture rest and settle for 5 minutes, and then strain the whole thing.
- Take a mug and pour fresh hot espresso coffee into it. Then our the milk lavender mix that we have just create and then top with the froth.
- It will smell wonderful. Complete the beverage by garnishing with a few lavender buds on the froth layer and enjoy.
Once you are done, don’t forget to click a picture before you drink!
Nutrition content
The nutrition figures shared are only an estimate, and will vary according to the exact contents you use for the coffee and the serving size. However, this can be definitely be used as ballpark figures if you are on a diet or are measuring your daily calories. Details of the nutrition per serving.
- Protein: 4 grams,
- Total carb: 18 grams,
- Total fat: 2 grams,
- Sodium: 69 mg,
- Dietary fiber: 0 gram,
- Sugars: 6 grams,
- Total Calories: 89
As a variation, you can try the lavender latter with different types of milk, almond milk, soy milk, and also by adding honey or agave or seeds of the vanilla bean. Trust us, it’s the most delicately beautiful, and extremely soothing cup of coffee you would have enjoyed.
Summary
If you are a diehard fan of coffee and guzzle up several cups in a day, this is one recipe that will work wonders for you. It will cool you down, calm your mind and reduce anxiety. Many are hooked on coffee just because of the energy jolt it gives. But as discussed, the side effects of the jolt can be seen throughout the day.
With the lavender latte, you will start getting a lot of mental clarity and clearness of thought which is much required at work. A cup or two of this aromatic herb-induced coffee will take you smoothly through a stressful day with ease. The recipe is easy if you have made the Lavender syrup and have stored it.
You can have this any time of the day or evening, you can also carry the syrup in a tiny bottle for using it in the office coffee. This drink and its effects have to be tried to be seen. I hope the information we shared has been useful and you will enjoy a great cup of Lavender Latte.
