Lavender Lemonade Recipe

2 Cups Boiling Water 
1/4 Cup Lavender Flowers (or more to taste)
2 Cups Cold Water 
1 Cup Ice 
1 Cup Lemon Juice 
Add in 6 Drops of Stevia  (or more to taste)
1 Lemon Sliced into Wheels or Wedges for Garnish (optional)

***Find culinary lavender at Penzeys Spices in MPLS, St. Paul or Lakeville or at thespicehouse.com.

Pour the boiling water over the lavender in a glass pitcher. Cover and allow to steep 10 minutes. Strain and discard the lavender from the water and return the lavender tea to the pitcher.  Add the cold water, ice, lemon juice and stevia to the pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves.  Chill until serving with lemon wheels for garnish.  **Note - this tea will be an unappetizing grey-brown-purple.  But don't worry.  By adding the zest of lemon juice, stevia and water, the mixture will turn a beautiful, pale pink.  We've also tried this with homegrown blossoms and it works, though the color isn't as bright.