Lavender | Festival

The ancient Greeks called the lavender herb nardus, after the Syrian city of Naarda. It was also commonly called nard.

During Roman times, flowers were sold for 100 denarii per pound, which was about the same as a month's wages for a farm labourer, or fifty haircuts from the local barber. Lavender was commonly used in Roman baths to scent the water, and it was thought to restore the skin. When the Roman Empire conquered southern Britain, the Romans introduced lavender.

During the height of the Plague, glove makers at Grasse would scent their leathers with lavender oil, and this was claimed to ward off the Plague. This story could have some validity as the Plague was transmitted by fleas, which lavender is known to repel.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy, a football player for Real Madrid, advocates the use of Lavender, and has been said to coat his boots in it prior to sleep.

Which lavender to use in cooking? When I searched the Intenet I found the answer here:

It is usually the English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) buds that are used in cooking. The English lavender is the preferred lavender of choice for cooking because of its sweet fragrance. There are two main types of Lavender used for cooking:
English Lavender known as Lavendula angustifolia officianalis (also known as True Lavender or Vera)

Lavendula x intermedia "Provence" (a hybrid).

We suggest "Provence"* as a culinary lavender as the most appealing as it has a lower camphor and resin content than "Officianalis".
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Pink Lavender Lemonade
This drink is nice and refreshing on hot summerdays,
if you want alcohol try to add Vodka.

1 cup = 2,3 dl.

6-8 servings

2 ½ c Water
1 ½ c Sugar
½ c Frozen or fresh, hulled strawberries
¼ c Fresh Lavender flowers chopped
2 ¼ c Fresh Lemon juice
2 ½ c Water
½ c Sugar

In a saucepan, blend 2 ½ cups water, sugar and strawberries.
Bring to boiling mark, stir to dissolve sugar.
Lower heat.
Simmer 5 minutes to extract pink from strawberries.
Remove from oven.
Stir in lavender flowers.
Cover and cool.
Strain cooled liquid into large pitcher, gently pressing juice from strawberries.
Add remaining 2 ½ cups water and lemon juice.
Stir well.
Add ½ cup of sugar.
Add ice cubes.
Garnish with lavender flowers.

Lavender Bread

1 cup = 2,3 dl.
1 tbsp = tablespoon = 15 ml.

Ingrediens:

1 pkg active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp dried lavender buds
1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme
½ tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
¼ tsp baking soda
2 eggs
2½ cups unbleached flour
butter

Preheat the oven to 350°F /180°C
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. In larger bowl, blend together the cottage cheese, honey, butter, herbs, baking soda and eggs. Stir in the yeast blend. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough, beating well after each addition. Cover and let rise about 1 hour or till doubled in bulk.

Stir the dough down with a spoon. Place in a well-greased casserole or individual pie tins. Let rise 30 to 40 minutes or till doubled in bulk. Bake for one hour for a large loaf and 20 to 30 minutes for the small loaves.

When done, turn, onto a rack, brush top with soft butter and let cool.

Lavender Fields
Philip Craig
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Lavender has been extensively used in herbalism.

English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, yields a highly effective essential oil with very sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. French lavender, Lavandula x intermedia, yields a similar essential oil, with higher contents of turpin, which adds a harsher overtone to the fragrance. Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas is not used medicinally, but mainly for landscaping purposes.

Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It was used in hospitals during WWI to disinfect floors, walls and other surfaces.

An infusion of lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites. Bunches of lavender are also said to ward off insects. If applied to the temples, lavender oil is said to soothe headaches. Lavender is frequently used as an aid to sleep and relaxation: Seeds and flowers of the plant are added to pillows, and an infusion of three flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water are recommended as a soothing and relaxing bedtime drink. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) is claimed to heal acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it is also used in the treatment of skin burns and inflammatory conditions (it is a traditional treatment for these in Iran).

Health precautions: There is scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of some of these remedies, especially the anti-inflammatory effects, but they should be used with caution since lavender oil can also be a powerful allergen. Ingesting lavender should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Special precautions should be taken with young boys, further reading here: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/.