Lavender tea dominates showbiz: From Kardashians to your kitchen

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 wealth of flavour sensations but also offers substantial nutritional value.

Culinary trends are now primarily shaped by the internet. They are driven by creators like Khristianne Uy from the Philippines, better known online as "Chef K." She is the favourite chef of the famous Kardashian family.

One of her latest hit recipes is lavender tea. Kourtney Kardashian, the eldest daughter of the renowned lawyer Robert Kardashian, who, along with her sisters, gained fame thanks to popular reality shows like "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami," has fallen in love with it.

Other stars and celebrities also eagerly reach for lavender tea. No wonder, as it is tasty, refreshing, and beneficial for our health. How do you prepare it?

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, known for its characteristic, slightly bitter taste and high nutritional value.

It's a treasure trove of catechins, compounds that help reduce inflammation, have antiviral and antibacterial properties, and strengthen the immune system.

Earl Grey tea is a rich source of 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, which, when excessive, builds up in arterial walls as so-called atherosclerotic plaques, potentially leading to coronary artery disease, heart attack, or stroke.

The drink's unique flavour is owed to dried lavender flowers, which have long been valued for their medicinal properties. In ancient times, lavender was even considered a remedy for insomnia. English Queen Elizabeth I sipped lavender tea to get rid of headaches. At the same time, 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.

The flowers of lavender owe their intoxicating fragrance to a high concentration of lavender oil, which is a source of many valuable health compounds from the terpene group, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, calming, anxiolytic, and relaxing properties. Lavender effectively alleviates stress and acts as an antidepressant.

The original recipe for the drink uses organic lavender-almond cream, which is very difficult to find in Canada. Fortunately, we can substitute it with homemade lavender whipped cream.

An important ingredient is lavender sugar, which can be bought in specialty stores or online. However, it is also easily made at home—mix a cup of fine sugar with an equal amount of dried lavender flowers, seal in a jar for 4-6 weeks, and then sift to remove the flowers.

Transfer half a cup of lavender sugar into a bowl, add well-chilled heavy cream (1 litre) and lavender extract (half a teaspoon), then 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.