Let’s be honest, we’re all suckers for a colorful scoop of ice cream, an eye-catching cocktail, and fun food twists and turns. These days every restaurant, coffee shop, and trendy local bakery is looking to bring their customers new and exciting flavors that are worthy of the perfect picture. Lucky for us, lavender has made its grand debut and friends, it’s not going anywhere.
Fun fact: Lavender is a flowering plant that’s part of the mint family. It’s well known for its subtle floral and spicy aroma, as well as it’s vibrant purple color. These are just a few of the many reasons why it’s becoming so popular in food and drink establishments across the U.S. and beyond!
We searched the Yelpisphere high and low for the country’s trendiest lavender eats and drinks and well, lavender has made its way into just about everything… pancakes, margaritas, gelato, you name it! Where are we seeing it the most? Keep scrolling for the 4 most common ways to taste the beautiful flavor of lavender.
#1 Coffee: Lately, lavender can be found at your favorite local cafe, either as a coffee shop staple or on a seasonal menu. With the lavender season being in full effect during the spring and early summer months, you’ll likely find it in June and July. Despite the warmer temps this time of year, lavender can be added to lattes, cold brews, and even bubble tea! Check out this sensational lavender latte from Remi Flower & Coffee in NYC.
#2 Ice Cream: It’s well known that adding flavorful herbs and spices to ice cream can leave your tongue in a whirlwind of excitement. So, it comes as no surprise that ice cream makers across the U.S. have started adding the subtle essence of lavender to their creamy, cold treats. Not only is it fun to mix with other flavors but the color is sure to leave you scrambling for your camera phone before it starts to melt. Take a look at this blueberry lavender ice cream from FogRose Ice Cream in Bellvue, WA. We’ll take three scoops, please!
#3 Libations: These days mixologists are always on the hunt for new flavors and experiences to incorporate into their signature cocktail menus.This made it easy for lavender to join in on all the fun! Lavender is often rendered into a syrup and added to cocktail concoctions like these brightly colored lavender margaritas that can be found at Urban Butcher in Silver Spring, MD. Not a fan of tequila? No worries. Lavender also pairs well with gin, vodka, and a plethora of other spirits. Keep your eyes peeled for a lavender libation in your city by searching on Yelp.
#4 Baked Goods: There’s nothing better than a freshly baked cupcake, pancake, and well, anything with the word ‘cake’ in it for that matter. Throw in some fresh herbs from the garden and you’ve got yourself a real winner. Not only has lavender taken the coffee, ice cream, and cocktail scenes by storm, but it’s making a name for itself in the world of baked goods as well. Take this exquisite lavender sugar donut from Oliboli Donuts in Tustin, CA for example. Not only is it infused with the flavor but looks like it was plucked right out of the garden.
There you have it, folks! Lavender has made a name for itself when it comes to mixing it’s mild flavor and vibrant color into coffee, ice cream, cocktails, and baked goods. Be sure to share your newly discovered lavender food trends on Yelp with your mouth-watering photos and uber- descriptive reviews. We’re excited to see this trend continue to grow like wildflowers (see what we did there).
