Lavender
Herbal infusion
4.5/5 · FindMeTea score
About this tea
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), commonly known as English or true lavender, produces one of the most elegantly fragrant herbal tisanes in the world — a caffeine-free infusion, not a true tea. Its signature floral aroma comes from linalool and linalyl acetate, two terpenes that together comprise over 70% of its essential oil. Cultivated for over 2,500 years across the Mediterranean basin, lavender has scented Roman bath houses, monastery gardens and the glove-makers of Grasse, and the dried buds are still steeped as an evening cup.
How to brew: 95°C, 5 min, 2 g per cup.
Caffeine
None
How to brew
Flavor notes
floral, relaxing, aromatic
Often associated with
Relaxation, Calm
Best time to enjoy
Evening, Mid-afternoon
Tags
Where to find it in United States
Where to find it in United StatesNear Columbus
- North Market SpicesOther Herbal infusion
Columbus · North Market, downtown
Spearmint, Crushed Leaves
from US$ 3.85· 1 oz
In storeOnline59 Spruce Street, Columbus, OH 43215See the shop → - Posh Teatime Co.Other Herbal infusion
Columbus · Franklinton, West Broad Street
Farmer's Market Fruit Blend
from US$ 16.95· 4 oz
In storeOnline1273 W Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222See the shop → - Sencha Tea BarThis tea
Minneapolis · Uptown (also Madison, WI)
Lavender Flowers
from US$ 4.99· 2 oz
In storeOnline2601 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408See the shop → - The Random Tea RoomThis tea
Philadelphia · Northern Liberties
Lavender
US$ 19.50· 6 oz
In storeOnline713 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123See the shop → - McNulty's Tea & CoffeeThis tea
New York · Greenwich Village
Lavender (4 oz bag)
from US$ 14· 4 oz
In storeOnline109 Christopher StreetSee the shop →
Origin & Production
Lavender is native to the western Mediterranean, from the Canary Islands through southern France to the Balkans. Provence in southeastern France has been the spiritual home of lavender for centuries — its high-altitude plateaus (700–1,400m) produce the most prized Lavandula angustifolia. Bulgaria has become the world's largest producer of lavender essential oil, particularly around the Rose Valley near Kazanlak. England's Norfolk lavender fields, dating to the 1930s, produce a distinctive, delicate variety suited to the cooler maritime climate.
Production process
Cultivation
True lavender (L. angustifolia) thrives in poor, rocky, alkaline soil with excellent drainage and full sun — conditions found naturally on the limestone plateaus of Provence. Plants are typically propagated from cuttings rather than seed for varietal consistency.
Harvest timing
Flowers are harvested in mid-summer (July–August in the Northern Hemisphere) when approximately two-thirds of the flower spike has opened — the moment of peak linalool and linalyl acetate concentration.
Cutting & bundling
Stems are cut about 10 cm below the flower heads, bundled, and either taken directly for distillation (for essential oil) or hung upside down in dark, ventilated rooms for drying (for tisane and culinary use).
Bud separation & grading
For tisane production, the tiny dried flower buds are stripped from the stems by hand or with gentle threshing. The buds are sieved to remove dust and stems, then graded by color intensity (deep purple commands a premium) and aroma strength.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
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History & Tradition
Lavender's story stretches from the bathing houses of ancient Rome to the plague-ravaged streets of medieval Europe, the perfume capital of Grasse, and the laboratories that still take its essential oil apart compound by compound.
Roman bathing & the origin of the name
The Romans used lavender extensively in their public baths — the name comes from the Latin 'lavare,' meaning 'to wash.' Pliny the Elder documented its use for insect bites, stomachaches, and kidney disorders.
Hildegard von Bingen's herbal
German Benedictine abbess Hildegard von Bingen, a pioneering herbalist, wrote extensively about lavender's properties for maintaining clear thinking and 'pure knowledge' in her medical texts Physica and Causae et Curae.
Great Plague of London
During the plague, glove-makers in Grasse, France, who scented their leather with lavender were believed to have lower infection rates. Londoners tied bundles of lavender around their wrists as protection.
René-Maurice Gattefossé & modern aromatherapy
French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé burned his hand in a laboratory accident and plunged it into pure lavender oil. He told the story for the rest of his career as the moment that turned him toward essential oils; he later coined the term 'aromathérapie' and published the foundational text of the field in 1937.
The European herbal monograph
On 27 March 2012 the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products adopted its monograph on Lavandula angustifolia Miller, flos. It fixes the herbal tea preparation at 1–2 g of flowers in 150 ml of boiling water, three times daily, and records the traditional indication as resting exclusively on long-standing use.
What's in the cup
A traditional evening cup
The European Medicines Agency's herbal committee lists lavender flower as a traditional herbal medicinal product for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and exhaustion and to aid sleep — an indication the monograph states rests exclusively on long-standing use, not on clinical trials. Its herbal tea posology is 1–2 g of flowers in 150 ml of boiling water, up to three times daily.
Source: EMA/HMPC herbal monograph (2012)
What the research says so far
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says it is unclear whether aromatherapy with lavender oil has benefits for anxiety, stress, sleep quality or insomnia, and that studies of oral lavender oil products are limited by small samples and a lack of independent testing. It also notes lavender is likely safe to consume in the amounts typically used in foods.
Linalool, linalyl acetate, rosmarinic acid
Those are the compounds the cup is made of: two terpenes that carry the floral aroma, plus phenolic acids such as rosmarinic acid. Worth keeping in mind when reading about lavender — most of what gets cited studies the distilled essential oil, a far more concentrated preparation than flowers steeped in water, and the two are not interchangeable.
Who the monograph leaves out
The same European monograph does not recommend lavender flower tea for children under 12, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding, for lack of adequate data. It also warns the preparation may impair the ability to drive or use machines.
Source: EMA/HMPC herbal monograph (2012)
This isn't medical advice. If you have a specific condition, or you are pregnant or taking medication, check with a healthcare provider.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Brew better
Grades & Varieties
True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
The most prized species for tisane and aromatherapy. Grown at higher altitudes (700–1,400m), it has a sweet, complex floral profile with no camphor notes. The dried buds produce a delicate, honey-like infusion with the highest linalool content.
Best for
- ✓Evening tisane
- ✓Standalone sipping — pure floral flavor
- ✓Blending with chamomile
Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia)
A sterile hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender, producing higher yields and more essential oil but with a sharper, more camphor-forward aroma. More affordable and widely available, though less suitable for delicate tisanes.
Best for
- ✓Scented sachets & potpourri
- ✓Budget-friendly cooking lavender
- ✓Blending with stronger herbs (rosemary, mint)
Culinary lavender buds
Food-grade Lavandula angustifolia buds specifically dried and processed for culinary use — free from pesticides and optimized for flavor. Adds a subtle floral sweetness to baked goods, syrups, and gourmet tea blends.
Best for
- ✓Lavender lemonade & syrups
- ✓Baking (scones, shortbread, crème brûlée)
- ✓Earl Grey lavender blends
Did you know?
The color "lavender" is named after the flower; the plant is native to the Mediterranean and belongs to the mint family.
Foods with this tea
What to Eat with Lavender Tea
Lavender's floral, slightly sweet perfume pairs beautifully with light pastries, soft cheeses, and honey-kissed dishes that let its aroma shine.
Lavender-Honey Glazed Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
Tender chicken thighs glazed with a lavender-honey reduction, served over roasted root vegetables for an aromatic, comforting dinner.
Lavender Crème Brûlée
A classic crème brûlée infused with dried lavender—silky, floral, and topped with a satisfying crack of caramelized sugar.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Tea recipes & drinks
Drinks with this tea
Lavender and Chamomile with Warm Milk and Honey
Lavender and chamomile steeped together, then topped with warm milk, honey and a pinch of cinnamon: floral, creamy and caffeine-free, for the end of the day.
Iced Lavender Lemonade Tea
Cold-brewed lavender tea meets fresh lemonade for a floral, refreshing summer drink with a gorgeous purple tint.
Lavender Gin Fizz
A sophisticated gin fizz with lavender-infused syrup, fresh lemon, and fizzy soda—fragrant, balanced, and irresistibly purple.