There is a coffee shop in Stamford, Connecticut that’s small but rich in charm.

The shop is filled with eclectic patterned tiles, a variety of pastries and one of my favorite tea lattes—Earl Grey. Sure, they have chai tea and matcha lattes, but the earl grey lattes have a whole other level of goodness: lavender.

Earl grey tea is made up of a unique blend of floral notes. It’s a black tea, but it is not as ubiquitous as the English Breakfast varieties. Notes of bergamot—sweet with a hint of smokiness—create its unique flavor, and the tea is delightful when blended with the creaminess of almond milk.

The lavender adds the zen tranquility we think of when sipping a cup of tea. Its soothing qualities come from terpenes, compounds that scent and flavor to many botanicals. As the lavender scent wafts through our nasal cavities and enters our blood stream, terpenes interact with messengers in the part of our brain which controls mood, emotion and behavior, creating a calming effect. So it is more than just the pleasant smell of lavender that makes us feel so relaxed—these chemicals cause a real physiological reaction.

It’s not hard to recreate the lavender latte at home! I just create simple syrups out of lavender and earl grey, then infuse them into steamed almond milk.

Here’s how I make the syrups at home:

Earl Grey Simple Syrup:

• 3 Earl Grey tea bags (I prefer Twinings)
• 1/2 cup Turbinado sugar
• 2 cups water

> Place 3 bags in 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep for 6 to 8 minutes or until dark in color.

> On the stovetop, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.

> Add one 1/2 cup of Turbinado sugar and mix until all sugar crystals are completely dissolved.

> Pour the sugar mixture into the Earl Grey concentrate.

Lavender Simple Syrup:

• 1 tablespoon dried lavender
• 1/2 cup Turbinado sugar
• 1 cups water

> Place 1 tablespoon of dried lavender in a tea bag (tea bags can be purchased at most tea stores)

> On the stovetop, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add lavender tea bag and the Turbinado sugar.

> Mix until all sugar crystals are completely dissolved.

> Add two tablespoons of Earl Grey simple syrup and 1/2 tablespoon lavender simple syrup to eight ounces of steamed almond milk.

Enjoy on it’s own, or with a scone!

Note: Lavender simple syrup can be purchased at places like The Savory Pantry if you prefer that to making it.

 

 

 

 

Author: Jane CoCo Cowles

Image: author’s own / Flickr 

Editors: Renée Picard; Caitlin Oriel