Look, you can eat lavender, but don’t go frolicking in a field and eating every purple stalk you see. Some people get mild tummy aches if they overeat it. My husband ate a lavender cookie I made, then claimed he “heard colors” for an hour. He was fine, but he’s also a drama queen.
The Art of Cooking with Lavender: A Guide to Edible Lavender | The
Also, pregnant or breastfeeding? Check with your doctor. Lavender can interact with meds like a nosy in-law—better to ask first.
And for heaven’s sake, wash the flowers. Bugs love lavender too. You don’t want a protein bonus you didn’t order.
Where to Get the Good Stuff
Don’t raid a garden center. Buy culinary-grade lavender online or at a farmers’ market. It’s cheap, lasts forever in a jar, and won’t taste like pesticides. I keep mine in a mason jar labeled “Magic Dust.” My partner thinks it’s weed. I let him believe that.
You can also grow your own English lavender. It’s idiot-proof—I have one on my windowsill that survived my neglect for two years. That plant is stronger than me.
