Lavender tea: The Hollywood trend that's stirring up America
5:17 PM EDT, June 9, 2024
Want to feel like a showbiz star? Prepare a delicious lavender-scented tea – a drink that has recently become a big hit in the United States. It not only provides a lot of taste sensations but also offers plenty of nutritional value.
Culinary trends are now primarily shaped on the internet. They are created by influencers such as Khristianne Uy from the Philippines, better known online as "Chef K." She is the favorite chef of the famous Kardashian family.
One of her latest hit recipes is lavender tea. Kourtney Kardashian, the oldest daughter of the famous lawyer Robert Kardashian, who, along with her sisters, gained fame through popular reality shows like "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami," fell in love with it.
Other stars and celebrities also eagerly reach for lavender tea. It's no wonder, as it is tasty, refreshing, and beneficial for our health. How do you prepare it?
Tea and lavender – a perfect duo
The base of the drink is Earl Grey tea, a black tea flavored with bergamot orange oil, obtained from the peel of the yellow-green fruits of a small tree native to India. This tea is known for its characteristic, slightly bitter taste and high nutritional value.
It's a treasure trove of catechins, which are compounds that help reduce inflammation, have antiviral and antibacterial properties, and strengthen the immune system.
Earl Grey tea is also rich in l-theanine, a non-protein amino acid that helps lower cortisol levels, protects against stress, and improves mood, memory, attention, and focus.
The tea also contains flavonoids – strong antioxidants that prevent allergic reactions, protect the cardiovascular system by sealing blood vessels, and lower levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol. Excessive LDL cholesterol can build up in arterial walls as atherosclerotic plaques, potentially leading to coronary artery disease, heart attack, or stroke.
The unique flavor of the drink is owed to dried lavender flowers, which have long been valued for their medicinal properties, once even considered a remedy for insomnia in ancient times. English Queen Elizabeth I sipped lavender tea to get rid of headaches, while the renowned French chemist Rene Gattefosse, who coined the term "aromatherapy," was captivated by the plant when he accidentally plunged his burned hand into a container of lavender oil. The pain subsided, and the wound healed quickly.
Lavender flowers owe their intoxicating fragrance to a high concentration of lavender oil, which is a source of many valuable health compounds from the terpene group. These exhibit anti-inflammatory, calming, anxiolytic, and relaxing properties. Lavender effectively alleviates stress and acts as an antidepressant.
Lavender tea - recipe
The original recipe for the drink uses organic lavender-almond cream. Fortunately, we can substitute it with homemade lavender whipped cream.
An important ingredient is lavender sugar, which can be bought in specialized stores or online but is also easily made at home. Mix a cup of fine sugar with dried lavender flowers (the same amount), seal the mixture in a jar for 4-6 weeks, then sift to remove the flowers.
Transfer half a cup of lavender sugar to a bowl. Add well-chilled heavy cream (1 quart) and lavender extract (half a teaspoon). Whip on medium speed until the cream becomes very fluffy.
Brew Earl Grey tea (2 tea bags) in boiling water. After three minutes, pour it into a mug with vanilla extract (1/4 teaspoon). Stir until the extract dissolves. Add the lavender cream, gently mix, and serve the drink, decorating it with chamomile flowers. Serve warm.
