Cool, chilling, and calming, as well as hydrating and helpful to almost every organ system, this lemon-lavender combo does wonders for the mind and body. Preparing an easy lavender simple syrup with honey takes no time at all, and any leftover syrup can be stored in the fridge and added to smoothies, cocktails/mocktails, or even used on oatmeal or pancakes. The time-tested benefits of lavender are many, from its stress-taming and nervousness-easing to its ability to promote a healthy digestion and a good night's sleep.

As a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, lavender soothes and eases the process of healthy digestion, smoothing out tummy troubles and calming feelings of being overly full. Lavender is well-known for its effect on the nervous system. The stressed or frenzied nervous system takes one look at this lavender lemonade and breathes a peaceful sigh. One sip, and the parasympathetic - rest and digest - mode that boosts feelings of well-being and overall healthy physiological function might even come back online. Drink this lavender lemonade with a meal late in the day as you transition into the peace of evening time, or as a welcome break during a busy afternoon, for a refreshing sense of tranquility and ease.

An optional squeeze of Elderberry Elixir in each cup deepens the pretty color of this herbal beverage, adds fruity depth to the tart flavor, and ups the immune-modulating benefits, making it perfect during a time of seasonal transition, like the period between summer and fall. The Elixir is a potent double extraction, adding the immune-protective and antioxidant benefits of elderberry to this delicious drink. Plus, since the recipe is kid-friendly, everyone in the family can benefit from the properties of lavender, lemon, and elderberry, all in one pretty package. The Elderberry Elixir added to this recipe turns it from the standard drink-next-door to an impressive herbal concoction your immune system will buddy up to.

Feeling extra on-edge after a long day or needing to wind down from an anxious moment? Add a dropperful of our beloved Take It Down a Notch or trusty Adaptogenesis to kick up the calm-down effects of the drink.

Salivating and ready for the recipe? Don't forget to pair it with a spritz of mint, fir, or lavender hydrosol/facial mist for a double dose of herbal loveliness, inside and out.

Here's the recipe for making this pretty, delicious drink in your home kitchen. 

Lovely Lavender Lemonade with Honey and Elderberry

8 cups water

3 tbsp fresh or dried lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) buds 

2/3 cup honey (replace this with stevia, monkfruit, or other sweetener of choice, as desired)

1 cup fresh lemon juice (juice of about 8 large lemons)

stalks of lavender, lemon wheels, or fresh mint leaves - for garnish

a few dropperfuls of Elderberry Elixir - approximately 1 dropperful per cup of lemonade

Add two cups water to a small pot and bring to a boil. Take off the heat and stir in the honey and lavender buds. Stir the mixture until the honey is dissolved and the lavender is saturated with water. Let this steep for 1-2 hours, then strain. This is your lavender simple syrup. 

To make the lemonade, mix the lemon juice with the simple syrup. Add the remaining 6 cups of water (replace this with sparkling water for a fizzy lemonade) to this and stir thoroughly. Adjust sweetness as needed with any sweetener of your choice or by diluting with more water. Pour over ice into individual glasses. Squeeze a dropperful (25-30 drops) of Elderberry Elixir into each glass. 

Garnish glasses of lavender lemonade with stalks of lavender, wheels of lemon, and sprigs of mint. Sip, enjoy, and relax.