When most people think of lavender, they picture beautiful purple fields and calming aromas—but lavender is also a versatile and delightful ingredient in the kitchen.
At Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm, we love sharing ways to bring lavender beyond the garden and into everyday cooking. With its light floral notes and subtle sweetness, culinary lavender can elevate both sweet and savory dishes when used correctly.
If you’ve never cooked with lavender before, don’t worry—it’s easier than you think.
What Does Lavender Taste Like?
Lavender has a light, floral, slightly sweet flavor with hints of citrus and mint. When used in small amounts, it adds a unique and elegant touch to recipes. The key is balance—too much lavender can taste soapy, but just the right amount creates a memorable and delicious flavor.
Tips for Cooking with Lavender
Before you start experimenting, here are a few simple tips:
Use culinary-grade lavender only (like the varieties we grow at the farm)
Start small—a little goes a long way
Pair with complementary flavors like lemon, honey, vanilla, and berries
Infuse rather than sprinkle for smoother flavor (especially in drinks and desserts)
Lavender Latte: A Cozy Floral Favorite
One of the easiest and most popular ways to enjoy lavender is in a lavender latte! There is two simple methods to produce your own lavender latte that will surely blow you away, either by infusing culinary lavender into a simple syrup, creating a lightly floral, soothing addition to your coffee or tea, or by purchasing our Lavender Coffee and adding warm milk and a layer of milk froth. The lavender coffee is roasted with lavender simple syrup, honey and vanilla and makes for the perfect base for your own lavender latte capable of beating any other lavender latte out there! It comes in either whole bean or ground, be sure to get some now!
Columbian Coffee with hints of honey and vanilla. Tastes like a Lavender hug in a mug!
This recipe is perfect for:
Slow mornings
Afternoon pick-me-ups
Impressing guests with something a little different
The combination of lavender and milk creates a calming, café-style experience right at home!
Lemon & Lavender Chicken: A Savory Surprise
Lavender isn’t just for desserts—it shines in savory dishes too. A lemon and lavender chicken recipe brings together bright citrus and subtle floral notes for a dish that feels both fresh and elevated.
Why it works:
Lemon balances lavender’s floral profile
Herbs and seasoning ground the flavor
It creates a unique twist on a classic dish
This is a great recipe for:
Dinner parties
Weekend cooking
Trying something new with familiar ingredients
Here’s this recipe:
Ingredients
3/4 cup Lavender White Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 cup Herbs De Provence Olive Oil
1/4 cup Lavender Honey
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 boneless chicken breasts skin on
Lavender sprig for garnish
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix the vinegar, olive oil, honey, lavender, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Add chicken and coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
Preheat a grill to medium. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place, skin side down, on the grill. Cook, turning every 5 minutes and brushing with the marinade, for 15 minutes or until no longer pink when tested with a sharp knife. Discard any remaining marinade.
Add to plate your finished chicken and top with lavender sprigs for a garnish. Enjoy!
Lavender Chai Ice Cream: A Sweet Treat!
And last but not least, for dessert lovers, this recipe for lavender/chai ice cream is a must-try! The creamy richness of chai pairs beautifully with the gentle floral notes of lavender, creating a dessert that feels both indulgent and refreshing.
It’s perfect for:
Warm spring and summer days
Serving after a farm visit
A unique homemade dessert experience
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon lavender simple syrup
1 tablespoon powdered chai tea
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Optional: ¼ teaspoon purple food coloring
Instructions
Freeze your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine all of the ingredients (cream, chai powder mix, milk, honey, lavender simple syrup, salt, and food coloring, if using). Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the honey has dissolved– about 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the mixture to steep at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Cover the ice cream base with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge until well chilled– at least 2 hours, but up to overnight.
Once the mixture is chilled, pour it into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency– using a Kitchenaid Ice Cream Attachment this takes about 15 minutes.
Transfer the soft-serve ice cream to a loaf pan and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Freeze for an additional 8 hours, or until the cream is set. The honey softens the ice cream so make sure to chill it at least 8 hours before scooping!
Scoop and enjoy.
Bring Lavender into Your Kitchen
Cooking with lavender is a simple way to add creativity and elegance to your meals. Whether you’re making a latte, preparing a savory dish, or crafting a homemade dessert, lavender brings something truly special to the table. At Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm, we offer culinary lavender grown and harvested right here on California’s Central Coast—perfect for all your kitchen creations.
Visit Us During Lavender Season
If you’re inspired to start cooking with lavender, come visit us during bloom season to experience the source firsthand. Walk through the fields, learn about how lavender is grown, and pick up culinary lavender to try these recipes at home.
Start Cooking with Lavender Today
From cozy drinks to elegant meals and sweet treats, lavender opens the door to a whole new world of flavor. Once you start cooking with it, you may find it becomes a favorite ingredient in your kitchen.