Fizzy Kombucha Lavender Lemonade

I love lavender. I used to be so sensitive to it that I definitely couldn't handle any artificial lavender anything, and even the flowers would be too intense for me. As I have cleared out all artificial fragrances in all of my home/body/bath products for years now and have gone exclusively natural and organic, I have found that I can now tolerate real lavender and even love it. I grow a lot of lavender every summer and dry it in my dehydrator for use in recipes - both for culinary and bath/body herbal use. A favorite way to use lavender is by infusing honey with it. There is some magic alchemy that lavender gives to the already aromatic honey. It is a great flavor combination. Lavender also works well with citrus. Since I love making all of my own beverages of course I have a favorite lavender lemonade recipe. 

I love kombucha but my husband doesn't quite like its twang. I usually only drink it myself - my older son has MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) and is very sensitive to high histamine foods - meaning he cannot tolerate just about any cured, fermented, or aged foods of any kind. I like having it fairly regularly, and also like making it so my husband can tolerate the flavor.  Even my younger son likes this drink.  

The combination of lavender, lemons, and infused honey with the kombucha takes away the more twangy sour flavor of the kombucha, but keeps its probiotic boost. It also gives this drink a little carbonation, which gives it a nice seltzer like fizz. Some kombucha brands don't have much carbonation which is fine, but I like the fizzier ones for this recipe. This has great taste, a healthy probiotic boost, and is very refreshing on a hot summer day.

Fizzy Kombucha Lavender Lemonade

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{wholly rooted}

The classic lemonade is refreshing and delicious. This recipe adds kombucha for a fizzy probiotic healthy punch, making it taste like a fizzy soda treat. If you make your own kombucha, you are set. If you are using store bought kombucha, look for a brand that has a nice carbonation and with a flavor that goes well with citrus and lavender! I like ginger or citrus kombucha with mine.

{ingredients}

• Juice of 4 lemons

• 2 cups kombucha

• 1/2 cup lavender honey (see below)

• 1-2 cups of water

Mix your fresh lemon juice and lavender honey in a small pitcher.

Add the kombucha and stir gently.

If you plan to drink this chilled right out of the fridge, add water to taste and you are set!

If you plan to pour this over ice add your water now, but you may want to keep it a bit more concentrated and add a little less water to compensate for melting ice later.

Be sure to taste and add more water or honey as needed - depending on how big and juicy your lemons are and the flavor of your kombucha you will want to tweak this to your taste.

If you are making a big pitcher for a party or picnic, the best bet for optimum carbonation is to pre-make the lemon/honey/water base and keep it chilled, and then add the kombucha to the base blend in the pitcher right before serving!

Serve cold. A few lavender buds and a slice of lemon make a nice garnish.

Published July 18, 2016

Tip: Add the honey to the lemon mix when slightly warm so that it will stir in and not sink the bottom. Whisking while slowly pouring it in helps too. 

Lavender Infused Honey:
To make lavender honey, gently warm your 1/2 cup of honey (LOW - no boiling!) with 2 Tbsp of dried lavender buds added. Let sit for 20-30 minutes on *very low* heat and then strain. The honey will be infused with the lavender aroma and flavor. 

More about: 
Kombucha
Lavender
Lemons

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