5 Lavender Tea Benefits
Posted by Molly McConnell on 08-16-2024
Lavender has been used to support relaxation for thousands of years. Most of us are familiar with lavender candles and scented bath products, but there are so many more ways to receive the potential benefits of lavender! You can drink it as a tea to help calm the mind, make it into a syrup for flavoring health-supporting mocktails, or apply it directly to the body to ease tension.
Personally, I love to use organic lavender for tea. Lavender tea is good for promoting a sense of calm, which can be an amazing way to wind down from a busy day or a perfect treat to soothe the system in the summer heat.
Lavender Varieties
As you search for the most delicious dried lavender flowers for your very own organic lavender tea, you may be wondering which variety is best.
You will likely find two varieties, or grades.
- Super Grade — Ex: French Lavender Flowers
Super grade dry lavender has a citrus-like taste, hints of sweetness and rosemary, and a stronger floral flavor. It is brighter and subtly peppery when raw. The color is rich and vibrant and contains the least amount of stems and leaves. With the abundance of flowers and buds, Super grade lavender is perfect for loose teas (especially if you intend to make a tea with only lavender, not as a blend) and in any application that calls for open or clear containers, such as potpourri, where the colors are sure to be prominent.
- Extra Grade — Ex: Bulgarian Lavender Flowers
Extra grade dry lavender has a slightly bitter, floral, grassy flavor enhanced by the aroma. The flowers have a little more green or blue-gray color compared to Select and Super, and also contains slightly more stems and leaves. This makes it a cost-effective alternative in culinary preparations and crafts that do not rely on visual presentation. Perfect for use in sachets, tinted containers, and especially in our Starwest Organic Lavender Dryer Bags!
All grades of our dried lavender possess a very fragrant aroma and distinct flavors that become more subtle when used in an infusion, such as a tea. Our bulk dried lavender buds are all perfectly suitable for culinary use, crafts, potpourri, and for therapeutic use such as in body care products like soap, essential oils, lotions, and shampoos. There are slight variations of color and aroma between each grade of lavender flower.
The Ayurvedic Perspective on Lavender
Though lavender is not necessarily considered one of the main Ayurvedic herbs, it does play an important role in soothing the doshas (elemental energies within the body) and majja dhatu (nervous system tissue). Ayurveda is the ancient healing science of India with more than 5,000 years of case studies proving its efficacy. According to this system, wellness grows when we orient toward balanced living and align ourselves with the rhythms of nature. The Ayurvedic approach focuses on diet,daily routine, and herbs to prevent and alleviate common wellness challenges.
With a deep commitment to understanding how various herbs impact the body and mind, Ayurveda has developed a system for determining the unique qualities that different medicinal plants offer us. Within this system, lavender is considered to be light, oily and sharp. The light, sharp qualities make it relatively easy for the body to absorb, while the oily quality delivers a grounding energy that soothes and stabilizes.
Lavender, also called dharu in Sanskrit, exhibits pungent, bitter and sweet tastes, the combination of which makes it balancing for all three doshas or mind body types — vata, pitta and kapha. (If you’re not familiar with the Ayurvedic mind body types, take the dosha quiz to learn more about your unique constitution.)
This amazing fragrant flower is also considered to be cooling, which is what makes it so refreshing in the summer.
Potential Benefits of Lavender Tea
#1 May Help Support Mood
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of Lavender found it to have potential as a part of stress management programs for students. Based on their analysis, the authors of this review recommend that more studies be done on the benefits of oral administration of lavender.
#2 May Help Support Sleep
In a 2015 randomized controlled trial, found that: “Lavender and sleep hygiene together, and sleep hygiene alone to a lesser degree, improved sleep quality for college students with self-reported sleep issues, with an effect remaining at follow-up.”
Most studies around lavender for sleep support focus on inhaling lavender via use of essential oils, but this same effect can be attained through the sensory experience of sipping and smelling lavender tea in the evening. Lavender tea for sleep may have promising benefits.
#3 May Help Support Healthy Inflammation Levels
Another 2015 study found that the application of lavender oil “demonstrates important therapeutic potential” when it comes to supporting healthy inflammation levels. Again, it is interesting to consider the potential benefits for internal use (like organic lavender tea), since it’s so potent when used externally or just taken in through the senses.
#4 May Help Offer Head Support
In a placebo-controlled clinical trial, out of 129 people suffering from headaches, 92 responded entirely or partially to lavender essential oil (which was significantly higher than the placebo group). Another study found promised results with lavender cream directly on the neck. Thus, the use of lavender may have an effect on relieving tension in the head and neck. Additionally, lavender is reported to have low adverse reactions. In moments of acute tension, it may be simply be worth a try.
#5 Possible Skin Soothing Properties
While lavender is commonly used in skin care to create a spa-like scent, it may also serve a deeper purpose for benefitting the skin. With its cooling properties, a lavender tea can be sipped or used as a toner (like Lavender Flower Water) to calm the skin. Breakouts are often related to stress, so incorporating organic lavender tea into your daily routine may also support glowing skin by reducing stress levels.
How to Use Dried Lavender Flowers for Tea
As you can see the potential lavender flower benefits are vast! Now is the perfect time to bring this delicious bright and floral tea into your daily routine.
½ teaspoon lavender flower dried*
12 ounces hot water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon local honey
Instructions:
Steep dried lavender in hot water for 10-15 minutes, covered. Strain. Add lemon juice and stir in honey. Sip slowly and enjoy as you wind down in the afternoon or evening.
*If you’re still unsure which lavender to use for tea, start with Super Grade French Lavender.
For more ways to use lavender check out 7 Organic Lavender Summer Drink Recipes.
Where to Buy Lavender Flowers
Order your lavender flowers directly from Starwest Botanicals, where we’re committed unwaveringly to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and supporting our communities from seed to shelf.
At Starwest, we offer an extensive, diverse, and carefully curated selection of premium-quality botanicals, organic herbs, delicious spices, tantalizing teas, and 100% pure essential oils. If you are passionate about highest quality ingredients and all the standards — from USDA Organic, to Non-GMO, Fairtrade, and more — you are in the right place.
Nature is filled with possibilities for wellness, discovery, and adventure — let’s explore together!
Bio
Molly McConnell is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner who is committed to cultivating collective wellness. Guided by curiosity, embodied listening, and the rhythms of nature, Molly’s approach to Ayurveda is intentional and intersectional. As the cofounder of Cultivate Balance, she supports purpose-oriented people to come home to their bodies and restore resilience through nourishment, ritual, and routine. For a more immersive experience, Connect with Molly 1:1 or check outThe Reset for Resilience.
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