Honey Lavender Lemonade

Summer is almost here – one day it’s sweltering and the next it feels like Seattle in November.  Colorado weather is so weird.  We prefer to be both optimistic and prepared for the nice days, so we whipped up some delicious honey lavender lemonade.

The first step is to make a sort of tea out of the honey, water, and dried lavender buds.  Simply combine the honey and water, bring to a boil (watch out – the boiling phase tends to happen very suddenly on this one!), then add lavender and remove from heat.  Let steep for 20 minutes.

When the spent lavender buds are strained out just add the freshly squeezed lemon juice, a bit more water, and you’ve got lemonade!  The honey gives it a rich golden color.

I plan to spend my summers sipping this – garnished with a lemon wedge and mint leaf, of course – on the back patio. (Interested in a cocktail version? Try a Ginger Bee!)

Honey Lavender Lemonade

• 1 cup honey
• 2.5 cups water
• 1 Tablespoon dried lavender
• 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (we used 10 small lemons)
• Additional 2 cups water
• Lots of ice

Combine honey and 2.5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to ensure the honey dissolves in the water.  When the mixture reaches a boil, stir in the lavender and remove from heat.  Let the mixture steep for 20 minutes, off the heat.
Strain the lavender from the liquid, then add the fresh lemon juice and an additional 2 cups of water.  Pour into glasses full of ice and serve!