Spring has sprung! There are so many things to love about this season that’s all too short in the Deep South. Soon, it will be 90 degrees in the shade down here, keeping most of us hiding indoors in our AC. But for now, the temps are mild, the sky is impossibly blue, flowers are blooming, and the cacophony of chirping birds and buzzing bees is somehow calming.
One specific seasonal love is lavender, and while you can enjoy this delicate stalk studded with tiny, pale-purple petals all year long, its soft colors plus its soothing, subtle floral aroma seem to scream “Spring!”
It’s pretty. It smells nice. And lavender also has some health benefits. Its scent has been proven to relieve anxiety and stress and balance mood. Simply crush some of its blooms in your hand with your fingers, and then massage your temples. Or just hold your palm to your nose and inhale.
Mix some in a cup of hot tea to release the aroma and then, drink up. By ingesting the lavender, you aid your digestion since lavender contains components that reduce bad gut bacteria. In fact, adding is scent-sational flavor to food and drink is a wonderful way to incorporate more lavender in your life. Try this simple “mocktail” that pairs lavender with the zip of lime.
Lime-Lavender Lift
This drink is amazingly effervescent and refreshing, perfect for a warm afternoon or evening.
(makes one drink)
- 4 tablespoons of lavender simple syrup (see method below)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 4 ounces of ginger beer (not ginger ale!)
Mix all ingredients and serve over crushed ice with a lime wedge or wheel.
Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons dried lavender blossoms (available in spice sections of many grocery stores)
In a small saucepan, stir the water, sugar and lavender together and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Strain the syrup. Let cool. Can be stored in the fridge for a week or frozen for up to two months.
