A Witch’s Brew
The days of Summer are nearly at an end, officially. In our household, it has long since been Autumn, however the North Carolina heat still filters through midday and we’ve yet to hit the autumn equinox. Last weekend we visited family in Virginia, and it was the perfect time to indulge in a Nonna Fox special, Lavender Lemonade! My mother has taught me most of the spells I know, and this particularly refreshing brew is a lovely treat that used to get conjured up on special occasions here and there. The Kit got her first taste and loved it! It’s sour, sweet, and a little bitter in a way that keeps you going back for more. I find the taste of lavender to be very refreshing, though it’s not for everyone. There are health benefits to consuming lavender other than it having a stress-relieving effect, with some studies showing it could aid digestion, menstrual discomfort, and even alleviate headaches. Lavender contains antioxidants and antimicrobials that your immune system and respiratory health can benefit from. That said, you should always consult a doctor, especially if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Lavender Lemonade is a wonderful drink to make during the warmer seasons, for gatherings with the Coven, and well into spooky season. It's great for Halloween parties. I love the color changing effect, it’s an exciting activity for kids to get involved in so long as they have parental supervision as you will be using the stovetop to steep the lavender. It goes from a greenish, clear tea to a vibrant mauve-pink when you introduce lemon juice due to the lowering of the pH from the lemon’s citric acid. Lavender is full of anthocyanin pigments that make up its blue-purple coloring. This alteration of the pH changes the molecular structure of the pigments; our eyes see them as pink after this change occurs! Now, time for the recipe! Grab yourself a decent-sized pitcher or cauldron or whatever...
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup dried, food-grade lavender
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (Around 8 regular sized or 4 large lemons)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup ice
*OPTIONAL: We chose not to this time around, but a couple drops of blue food coloring would probably give this drink a lovely lavender tone if the pink isn’t quite your thing. Next time I plan on testing it out! Let me know on the Lavender Lemonade Instagram post if you do and how it turned out.
- Bring the 2 cups of water to boil in a small saucepan over high heat. As soon as it starts to boil, take it off the heat.
- Pour the water over the ¼ cup of lavender in a glass or metal container, like a measuring cup. Steep for 10 minutes.
- Juice your lemons until you have 1 cup of juice and set aside.
- Using a fine mesh strainer or a cheese cloth, strain the lavender tea into your pitcher after it’s done steeping.
- Add the ¾ cup of sugar to the lavender and stir well. If you prefer a sweeter lemonade or are worried about the bitterness of the tea, I’d suggest adding another ¼ cup of sugar or so until it’s right for you.
- It’s time for the magic to happen! Add the lemon juice, stir, and watch your witch’s brew come to life!
- Top off with ice and water, we used about 1 cup of ice and then water the rest of the way. We honestly could have gone with a larger pitcher as this batch was quite potent!
And there you have it! A beautiful, witchy concoction to keep cool as the shadows lengthen and you wait for the leaves to fall. Lavender Lemonade is such a versatile and unique option, it requires very little work and elevates a simple drink into something more aromatic and exciting for the senses. There’s a lot of creative things you can do with this brew, popsicles, mixed drinks, etc. I hope you enjoy the process as much as we did! Thanks for joining me in the Hollow! -Sara Fox
