Enjoy lavender season after the blooms fade from these Maryland businesses.
It’s finally lavender season in the DMV! After quarantine kept most of the fields closed to the public last summer, people are heading out to the farms to take pictures of the marvelous purple fields and bring home fresh-picked bunches of lavender. Lavender has a calming scent that is used in a variety of bath, body, and home fragrance products. But did you know it is also a popular ingredient in food and drink? Here are five places you can find sweet and delicious lavender treats to celebrate the season.
Lavande Patisserie
Lavande is French for lavender and that’s definitely what you’ll get at this Rockville bakery cafe. Lavande makes fresh pastries, cakes, macaroons, and others, along with tea and coffee drinks. Lavender lattes, lavender tea, and seasonal strawberry lavender lemonade are some of its signature drinks or you can add lavender syrup to any drink. Pair your drink with a slice of violet cake, made with lavender almond cake, blueberry puree, and cheesecake cream. This amazing gluten-free cake is available by special order only.
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream is the go-to place for ice cream in the Bethesda area. The shop has two locations, one on Old Georgetown Road and another on River Road. Sarah’s whips up handmade ice cream in small batches in unique flavors like mango habanero, coffee Oreo, and chocolate malted meringue. You can order it by the scoop, pint, or as a sundae or sandwich, and you can even have three flavors combined to make your own special blend. After you visit the lavender fields, stop in for a scoop (or two) of Sarah’s season blend of lavender honey ice cream.
Springfield Manor lavender gin, Courtesy of Springfield Manor (Facebook)
Springfield Manor Winery Distillery Brewery
Nothing is more relaxing than kicking back with a craft cocktail. This distillery in Maryland makes lavender gin and vodka with lavender grown on their farm. These craft liquors are made on-site at Springfield Manor in an imported Bavarian copper still. English lavender and limestone-filtered water give the spirits a sweet, delicate flavor. Find it at Springfield Manor in Frederick and select liquor stores in Maryland.
Soleado Lavender
Speaking of lavender and honey, nothing sweetens tea better than infused honey. Soleado Lavender farm in Montgomery County is a family-owned farm that creates products including soaps, lotions, and candles. The farm also has an apiary onsite where honeybees create sweet fragrant honey with nectar from the lavender fields. Available online or at the farm seasonally, while supplies last.
Serene Lavender Farm
Want to make your own lavender recipes at home? Grab some lavender syrup from this farm in Sykesville. Lavender syrup is made from cane sugar, distilled water, lemon juice, and English lavender harvested from the farm. The syrup can be added to coffee, cocktails, and mixed into recipes for baked goods. Serene lavender is grown without pesticides and picked by hand. Lavender syrup is available in 2- and 8-ounce bottles, starting at $5. Check the farm’s Facebook page for farmer’s market locations or shop online.
What's your favorite lavender product? Share your local favs in the comments.