Cooking with edible flowers has been one of my greatest pleasures in the kitchen. Floral infusions provide amazing flavor and can add beneficial, healing properties to any dish or drink. My favorite was the Rose Ice Cream and Rose Petal Mille Feuille I made a few years ago with organic rose petals and the purest essential rose oil from my perfume maker friend. The oil was so concentrated that a tiny drop turned a portion of ice cream into a magical bowl of aromatherapy.
Here are two refreshing drinks we’ve been enjoying this summer, featuring some of the most loved, calming culinary flowers – lavender and chamomile.
Chamomile is an amazing little flower, and its oils are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiallergenic. It has long been used as a sleep aid all over the world. Having a cup of chamomile tea before bed has become one of my daily rituals – it really does the job of getting me ready for some wholesome rest.
Lately, I’ve been loving this creamy chamomile latte. My favorite way to enjoy it this summer is cold, but it also makes for a comforting warm drink for the cooler parts of the year.
Lavender, with its own share of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, is king of the aromatherapy world – even the smallest whiff sends a relaxation signal to the mind. This milkshake combines lavender and blueberries, as the two are a match made in heaven. Drink it as a refreshing mid-afternoon snack after some time in the sun or even as dessert after dinner.
The most important variable when cooking with dried edible flowers is their freshness. If a flower is freshly dried, a little of it will go a long way, while older dried flowers have likely lost their potency. It’s also important to remember that the best way to extract the beneficial oils from herbs such as chamomile and lavender is gently heating them in a double boiler for longer periods of time. Directly pouring boiling water over the herbs is a harsher method, which kills off many of their benefits.
We are off to Sochi for the last stretch of our Russian vacation. Black Sea, here we come.
Chamomile Latte
serves 2
1 1/2 cups water
4 tablespoons dried German chamomile flowers – make sure to get them from a store with a good rotation (I get mine here)
1/2 cup almond milk (I like homemade unsweetened)
honey to taste – optional
Combine water with chamomile in a small, heatproof bowl. Place the bowl into a heavy bottomed pot or pan. Add water to the pan, making sure that water level in the pan is lower than the bowl. Bring water in the pan to a simmer and simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool enough for safe handling. Strain chamomile tea, mix with almond milk and honey, if using. For an extra creamy and foamy consistency, blend the tea and almond milk in a blender. Drink warm or chilled in the fridge. I like it best cold and unsweetened.
Lavender Milkshake
serves 2
1 1/2 cups almond milk or other plant milk (I like homemade unsweetened almond milk)
1 tablespoon edible dried lavender flowers (make sure to get them from a store with a good rotation – flowers should be lavender, rather then grey in color, with a fresh, strong aroma – I get mine here)
6-8 scoops of your favorite vanilla, blueberry or lavender ice-cream
handful of fresh or frozen blueberries – optional, for color
handful of ice cubes – optional, for smoother texture
splash of maple syrup – optional, to taste
seeds of 1 vanilla bean or splash of vanilla extract – optional
Combine almond milk and lavender flowers in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let cool. Strain and chill in the refrigerator. Combine lavender milk and the rest of ingredients in a blender and blend to a smooth and thick milkshake consistency. If your lavender flowers are very fresh and aromatic, you can skip the infusion step and simply blend almond milk, 1/2 tablespoon (or to taste) lavender and blueberries, in a high speed blender until completely smooth. Then add the rest of ingredients and blend to a smooth and thick milkshake consistency.
I love lavender and chamomile – they’re both so calming and relaxing. I often have them together in my tea blends. I’m thinking of doing the same thing here and combining the latte + milkshake!
Wonderful. I need to try this, I’m in a levender phase lately ;) and chamomile late sounds amazing too!
Gorgeous! Both of these look amazing in every way. I would have never thought to make a lavender milkshake, but I totally want one now! Thanks for sharing!
xx Lane
Hi!
That Chamomille Latte really catched my eye on instagram. I could imagine how smooth and soothing it would be <3 I often make golden milk during the colder months and loving it, so it felt like a drink right up my alley. I also often have trouble relaxing in the evenings. So thank you for an inspiring recipe! I think I will try a quick version using a chamomille tea bag first, then get the dried flowers :)
Hugs,
Agnes
We love the sound of a lavender milkshake – we’ll definitely be sharing this recipe with our followers! Also one of our favorite brands, Agave Dream, makes a great lavender ice cream that may work well in this recipe. You should check it out!
OMG, this lavender milkshake looks perfect!Haven’t tried yet your lavender ice cream,but can’t wait to make it this we! Enjoy the Black Sea, Anya!
OMG, I just made the lavender shake with lavender from my garden, some fresh blueberries and vanilla coconut ice cream and it is THE BEST milkshake I have ever had! Thanks so much for the recipe idea, I’ve loved lavender ice cream since I had it in south of France a few years ago and this is just as good if not better…
Sara, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. It must have tasted amazing with fresh lavender.
Oh my goodness, these both look incredibly delicious!
Hi Golubka!
I have fresh lavender, can I use that instead?
Hi Jenna,
Yes, most definitely.
Lavender in a milkshake?! I need to get on this right now! This looks so, so lovely.
The only baking I’ve ever done with lavender was a batch of mixed berry lavender scones last summer. They were so beautiful. Not as beautiful as these milkshakes, though! Exotic and incredible. I bet making them boozy with a touch of elderflower liqueur would be over-the-top amazing!
milkshakes are my real love, and this one is awsome
I enjoy chamomile tea, so I would probably love this latte.
Cheers or shall I say sweet dreams…this lovely concoction would make me want to lay my head to rest.
Milkshakes are a long standing favourite, we are always looking for new recipes to share with our friends and clients.
This will win not only by taste but also originality!