Lavender Simple Syrup
What Are Simple Syrups?
Simple Syrups are one of the things we use all the time but tend not to notice. Basically, it’s liquid flavor. It’s a sugar/water mixture that takes on the flavor of whatever you add to it by reducing it down from a water/sugar mixture to a syrup. It’s incredibly diverse in how you can use it, and has actually been in use since the oldest known cocktail in the 1806.
So what is it used for?
Cocktails / mixing drinks
Almost any coffee drink that isn’t black coffee
Flavoring & moistening sponge cakes
Iced teas
Ice cream flavoring
Enhancing sliced fruit
Shelf Stable vs Not Shelf Stable
Sugar is a natural chemical stabilizer that in this case acts as a preservative for the simple syrup. This just means that you won’t have to refrigerate it if you decide to go the shelf stable route. The rule of thumb is a Shelf Stable syrup is 2 Parts Sugar : 1 Part Water.
It’s more sugary, but it takes on more or the flavour that you’re trying to infuse. This option is great if you have limited fridge space, but I’d be careful with how much of it you’re adding to your coffee, cakes, etc because of the added sweetness. It’s all about finding the right balance!
RiverBrooke Farm Lavender!
There are a lot of culinary lavender vendors out there, but in my opinion none of them come close to RiverBrooke Farm. They’re a small, family owned farm based out of Northern California.
Run by Kim & Gary Hawthorne, this farm has been growing lavender since 2016 when this couple left the suburbs of the Bay Area to pursue their lifelong dream of building a self-sustaining farm. Many crops have a short growing season, and lavender is no exception. Harvest only lasts from mid-June to the last few weeks of July, so these two are constantly working during that time to get everything harvest and dried for public consumption.
From this incredible organically grown lavender, the farm releases many different fragrant products. At their local farmer’s market, they’re veritable celebrities for their legendary Lavender Ice Cream, but from across the country we are lucky to have access to their Dried Lavender, Lavender Lemonade Starter Kit, Lavender Spice Rub, Lavender Tea Cookies, Lavender Spice Rub, and much more!
If you’re looking for a great source of dried lavender, this is a great way to support small, independent farms that always has sustainability in mind!
Lavender Simple Syrup
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Simone Peironnet | 3/4/2021
prep time: 0
cook time: 20
rest time: 15
total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 16 -24 oz
Ingredients:
2 Cups White Suagr (SHELF STABLE) or 1 Cup White Sugar (NOT SHELF STABLE)
1 Cup Water
Instructions:
- Put your water and sugar in a medium sized sauce pan over a high heat. As the water is heating, stir contents with a spoon until dissolved
- Once water has come to a boil, add lavender. After 3 minutes remove pan from heat and shut off stove.
- Allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, bottle your simple syrup. Strain lavender out before bottling, or keep it in your syrup to further enhance the lavender flavour.
- Enjoy your lavender simple syrup! I recommend just a splash in your coffee, but it's of course to taste. If you chose the self-stable option you can just leave it out, if you didn't make sure to refridgerate it!
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