If you love floral flavors and want to try something a little different in your teacup, lavender tea is a fun one to explore. Lavender tea is an herbal tea made by steeping dried, food-grade lavender buds in hot water. It has a noticeable floral aroma and flavor, so a little lavender can go a long way.
I especially like lavender because there are so many ways to enjoy the flavor. You can drink lavender tea on its own, blend it with other teas, serve it iced, or pair it with lemon, vanilla, berries, and some of your favorite tea-time treats.
If you’re new to herbal teas in general, you may also want to read my Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Tea, or the Floral Tea Guide, to learn how herbal teas are different from traditional black, green, and white teas.
And if you’re still figuring out brewing times and temperatures, grab my Free Tea Brewing Guide below to keep handy in your kitchen.
Jump to:
- What Is Lavender Tea?
- What Does Lavender Tea Taste Like?
- Is Lavender Tea a Real Tea?
- How to Brew Lavender Tea
- Popular Lavender Tea Combinations
- Hot or Iced Lavender Tea?
- When Is a Good Time to Drink Lavender Tea?
- What to Serve With Lavender Tea
- Make Lavender Tea Part of an Afternoon Tea
- A Few Fun Lavender Tea Facts
- Tips for Trying Lavender Tea for the First Time
- FAQs About Lavender Tea
- Now That You Know More about Lavender
What Is Lavender Tea?
Lavender tea is an herbal infusion made by steeping dried culinary lavender buds in hot water. Unlike black, green, and white tea, pure lavender tea does not come from the Camellia sinensis tea plant.
That means a cup made with only lavender is naturally caffeine-free.
You’ll also find lavender blended with traditional teas such as Earl Grey and black tea. Those blends can contain caffeine, depending on what else is in them.
The flavor is floral and fragrant with a slightly sweet, herbal taste. If you’ve never tried it before, start with a lighter brew. Lavender is one of those flavors where more isn’t necessarily better!
What Does Lavender Tea Taste Like?
Lavender tea tastes floral, lightly herbal, and sometimes a little earthy. Its aroma is actually a big part of the experience.
If you’ve ever thought lavender sounded a little too much like perfume to drink, don’t let that scare you away. The key is not using too much.
I prefer lavender when it is paired with another flavor that balances the floral notes. Lemon, vanilla, berries, mint, and Earl Grey are all good places to start.
Is Lavender Tea a Real Tea?
Technically, pure lavender tea is an herbal tea, or tisane, rather than a true tea.
True teas—including black, green, white, and oolong—come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Lavender tea is made from lavender flowers.
We still call it tea because the lavender buds are steeped in hot water in much the same way you would brew other teas.
If you’d like to compare the different types, my Beginner’s Guide to Black Tea, Beginner’s Guide to Green Tea, Beginner’s Guide to White Tea, and Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Tea are good places to continue your tea adventures.
How to Brew Lavender Tea
You don’t need anything fancy to make lavender tea.
For a simple cup, add about 1 teaspoon of dried culinary lavender buds per 8 ounces of hot water. Steep for approximately 5 minutes, then strain the flowers before drinking.
Taste your tea before adding anything else. From there, you can add a little honey, lemon, or another sweetener if you like.
Most importantly, make sure you’re using culinary or food-grade lavender intended for consumption rather than decorative lavender or lavender essential oil.
And remember—you can always make your next cup stronger. Starting light is the easiest way to find the lavender flavor you enjoy.
Popular Lavender Tea Combinations
One of the best things about lavender is how easily you can pair it with other flavors.
Lavender and Earl Grey: This may be one of my favorite combinations. The bergamot flavor in Earl Grey works beautifully with floral lavender. Since Earl Grey is generally made with black tea, this version usually contains caffeine.
Lavender and lemon: Lemon adds a bright citrus flavor that balances lavender nicely. Try adding a fresh lemon slice to your cup.
Lavender and chamomile: Two floral ingredients make this a very fragrant herbal blend. Look for caffeine-free versions if that’s important to you.
Lavender and mint: Mint gives lavender tea a fresher flavor and can be especially nice when you serve it iced.
Lavender and vanilla: Vanilla softens the floral flavor and is particularly good if you’re making a tea latte.
Lavender and berries: Blueberry and blackberry both pair surprisingly well with lavender, especially for spring and summer teas.
Hot or Iced Lavender Tea?
Both are good.
During cooler weather, I like lavender tea served warm with a little honey or lemon. It also makes a pretty addition to an afternoon tea table.
When the weather gets warmer, brew it ahead of time, chill it, and pour it over ice. Add lemon slices, berries, or even a small sprig of fresh lavender to make it look extra pretty when you’re serving guests.
You could also use lavender as one of several tea choices for a Garden Tea Party. Floral tea, flowers on the table, pretty china, and a plate of scones sound like a pretty good afternoon to me.
When Is a Good Time to Drink Lavender Tea?
There really isn’t a wrong time to enjoy it, but I think lavender tea fits certain moments especially well.
Try a cup on a quiet Saturday morning while you’re reading a book, during an afternoon break when you want something besides coffee, or while sitting under a blanket and catching up on your favorite show.
In spring, lavender tea is lovely for a garden tea party, Mother’s Day tea, bridal shower, or birthday tea. During summer, turn it into iced lavender tea and serve it with lemon.
And you certainly don’t need to have a party. Invite a friend over and make a little Tea Party for Two with lavender tea, scones, and a few cookies.
Sometimes that’s the best kind of tea party.
What to Serve With Lavender Tea
Because lavender has such a distinctive floral flavor, I like pairing it with simple desserts that don’t compete with it.
Lemon is probably my first choice. My Lemon Lavender Cookies carry the floral flavor into dessert, while Lemon Bars add a bright citrus contrast.
For a more traditional afternoon tea, make a batch of my Tea Scones with Clotted Cream and add lemon curd or strawberry jam.
You could also serve lavender tea alongside Earl Grey Cupcakes with Lavender Frosting. Earl Grey and lavender already make a natural pairing, so this would make a beautiful little tea-party menu.
If you’re planning a larger gathering, browse my Afternoon Tea Party Ideas and Recipes for sandwiches, scones, desserts, and more ideas for putting everything together.
Make Lavender Tea Part of an Afternoon Tea
Lavender tea is especially pretty for a spring or summer tea party.
You don’t have to make the entire menu lavender-flavored, either. In fact, I wouldn’t. Let the tea be one of the floral elements and balance it with lemon desserts, traditional scones, berries, tea sandwiches, and a few simple sweets.
For the table, add fresh flowers, lavender-colored napkins or plates, and your favorite teacups. You don’t need everything to match.
If you’re hosting outside, my Garden Tea Party Guide has more ideas for creating an easy outdoor gathering. For something smaller, my Tea Party for Two is a fun way to turn an ordinary afternoon into an occasion.
A Few Fun Lavender Tea Facts
Lavender is strongly associated with the color purple, but lavender flowers can also appear in shades of pink, white, and blue-purple.
Lavender is part of the mint family, which may be surprising when you compare its floral fragrance to the flavor of mint.
Lavender is also frequently paired with Earl Grey because the citrusy bergamot flavor of Earl Grey balances the floral lavender.
And while we usually picture lavender tea served hot, it can also be brewed, chilled, and served over ice—making it a tea you can enjoy throughout the year.
Tips for Trying Lavender Tea for the First Time
If this is your first cup, my biggest suggestion is start light. Lavender can quickly become overpowering.
Choose culinary lavender or a prepared lavender tea blend and follow the package directions. Once you’ve tasted it, you can adjust your next cup.
If pure lavender isn’t for you, don’t give up on it completely. Try lavender blended with Earl Grey, lemon, mint, vanilla, or another herbal tea. You may find that you enjoy lavender much more as a supporting flavor.
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FAQs About Lavender Tea
Pure lavender tea made only from lavender flowers is naturally caffeine-free. However, lavender blends made with black or green tea will contain caffeine. Check the ingredients on your tea package if you’re unsure.
Lavender tea has a floral, fragrant, lightly herbal flavor. Using too much can make the flavor overpowering, so beginners may want to start with a lighter brew.
Yes. Milk works especially well with lavender blends that include black tea, Earl Grey, or vanilla. You can also add steamed milk to create a simple lavender tea latte.
Absolutely. Brew the tea, allow it to cool, refrigerate it, and serve it over ice. Lemon and berries are easy additions for an iced lavender tea.
Lavender pairs especially well with lemon, vanilla, Earl Grey, mint, chamomile, blueberries, blackberries, honey, and simple baked treats such as scones, shortbread, and lemon cookies.
Now That You Know More about Lavender
If lavender has inspired you to try more teas, head over to my Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Tea next, browse my other Tea Guides, or use your new favorite lavender tea to put together a pretty Tea Gift Basket for someone special. Until next time, keep life sweet—one cup at a time.
You can find all eight of my tea guides in one place on my Tea Guides page.
