How to Make Lavender Simple Syrup (and Customize It to Your Taste)
Photo by Nathan Rist
One of the things I love most about growing lavender is watching it travel from the field all the way into a glass.
Lavender syrup is often the first way people discover that lavender isn’t just beautiful and fragrant — it’s actually delicious when used thoughtfully in food and drinks.
I still remember the very first lavender drink I ever had. I was teaching elementary music at the time, and one morning a parent brought me a lavender latte as a thank-you for loving on her kiddo so well. I had never tasted anything like it before. The lavender completely changed the flavor of the latte — soft, floral, calming — and I remember thinking how special that moment felt. I loved that student dearly, so getting that drink as a gesture of appreciation meant a lot.
That simple latte opened my eyes to how wonderful lavender can be in the kitchen.
Now, years later, I grow culinary lavender here on our farm in Southwest Colorado, and lavender simple syrup has become one of my favorite ways to bring that field flavor into everyday drinks.
Once you make a jar of lavender syrup, the possibilities are endless: sparkling water, lemonade, coffee drinks, cocktails, desserts, and more.
The best part is that this recipe is incredibly flexible. You can easily adjust the sweetness or the lavender intensity to match your own taste.
Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe
This classic recipe makes about 1 cup of syrup, perfect for drinks and recipes.
Ingredients
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons culinary lavender buds
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar.
Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
Once the sugar is dissolved, add the lavender buds.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat.
Let the lavender steep for about 10–15 minutes.
Strain the lavender buds using a fine mesh strainer.
Allow the syrup to cool, then store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
The syrup will keep for 2–3 weeks in the fridge.
For a simple pre-made kit for you or for gifting - check out our DIY Simple Syrup Kits!
How to Adjust the Flavor to Your Taste
One of the joys of making lavender syrup at home is that you can adjust it depending on what you love most.
For stronger lavender flavor
Instead of steeping longer (which can sometimes create bitterness), simply add more lavender buds.
Try 2 tablespoons lavender instead of one for a more pronounced floral flavor.
Lavender is powerful, so it’s fun to experiment and see what level feels just right to you.
For a sweeter syrup
Use what bartenders call a rich simple syrup.
Instead of equal parts sugar and water, use:
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
This creates a thicker, sweeter syrup that works beautifully in coffee drinks and cocktails.
For a lighter floral syrup
Use 1 tablespoon lavender for a softer hint of flavor that’s perfect for sparkling water or lemonade.
Add a Beautiful Color with Butterfly Pea Flower
One of the most fun ways to elevate this syrup is by adding butterfly pea flower.
This beautiful flower naturally creates a deep blue color when steeped in liquid.
To try it:
Add 1 teaspoon dried butterfly pea flowers when you add the lavender.
The syrup will turn a rich blue color.
The magic happens when you add lemon
Butterfly pea flower reacts to acidity, so when you add lemon juice to a drink made with this syrup, the color transforms from blue to a gorgeous lavender-purple.
It feels almost like a little kitchen magic trick.
(We include butterfly pea flower in our DIY lavender simple syrup kits for exactly this reason — it makes drinks feel extra special.)
Creative Variations to Try
Once you make your first batch of lavender syrup, you might find yourself experimenting with other flavors.
Here are a few ingredients that pair beautifully with lavender.
Lemon peel
Adds brightness and works especially well for lemonade.
Fresh mint
Creates a refreshing herbal syrup perfect for iced drinks.
Vanilla bean
Adds a soft dessert-like warmth to the syrup.
Honey
Replace some of the sugar with honey for deeper floral sweetness.
Rose petals
Lavender and rose together create a beautiful floral pairing.
How I Use Lavender Simple Syrup on the Farm
In the summer, my favorite way to use lavender syrup is simple: sparkling water with a splash of syrup and a squeeze of lemon. It’s refreshing, lightly floral, and perfect on a hot afternoon.
In the winter, I come back to where my lavender journey started — lavender lattes.
But one of my favorite traditions on the farm is during our Christmas Tree event each year. We make lavender hot cocoa, and people who have never tasted lavender in a drink before are always surprised by how well the flavors work together. Watching that moment of discovery is always so fun.
Lavender also makes incredible popsicles, and simple syrup is the base I use when making them for friends in the summer.
A culinary bouquet with Miss Katherine and Royal Velvet lavender
From the Field to Your Glass
Here on the farm we grow specific culinary lavender varieties chosen for flavor.
Two of my favorites are Miss Katherine and Royal Velvet. Both have a softer sweetness and beautiful floral character that makes them especially good for cooking and drinks.
When lavender is grown with culinary use in mind, it transforms from something decorative into something deeply delicious.
And simple syrup is one of the easiest ways to experience that transformation.
A Final Encouragement
The best part about lavender syrup is that there’s room to play.
Try different sweetness levels, experiment with other herbs or citrus, and adjust the lavender until it tastes just right to you.
A small jar of syrup can turn everyday drinks into something special — a little reminder of lavender fields, even if you’re far from the farm.
-Katie
