Lavender MicroFlowers™
Estimated Inventory, 100 ct : 0
This item was last sold on : 11/16/24
Fresh Origins | Homepage |
Description/Taste
Micro Lavender flowers™ are tiny, with the blossoms measuring less than one centimeter in diameter and spread along the top third of long thin sage green stems. The stems have a slightly woody texture and may have 6 to 10 oblong leaves with deep central veining arranged at the opposite end. Micro Lavender flowers™ have a deep purple color and buds that remain mostly closed once picked. The few flowers that do open feature 2 to 4 soft ovate petals surrounding yellow stamens to form a bell shape. The delicate blooms are highly aromatic with a crisp and woodsy aroma and feature a sweet and floral flavor with a mild menthol and camphor finish.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Lavender flowers™ are available year-round, with a peak season during the summer.
Current Facts
Micro Lavender flowers™ are small, edible flowers that are a part of a trademarked line of specialty Microflowers™ grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. This Microflowers™ line is generally smaller than a quarter and offers various flavors, colors, shapes, and textures to elevate culinary and mixology experiences. They were designed to complement the company’s extensive collection of micro and petite greens. Micro Lavender flowers™ are a petite version of the flowers harvested from Lavandula, a bushy shrub known for its beautiful and highly aromatic blossoms. There are 39 different varieties of Lavender, the most common of which is Lavandula angustifolia, or English Lavender. This variety features smaller and darker buds than other lavender varieties, with a pronounced sweet and perfumy taste. Other common varieties of lavender include French lavender and Spanish lavender. These varieties are used more often as an herb or in the production of hand soaps, perfumes, and other cosmetics. Micro Lavender flowers™ boast vibrant blue-purple buds attached to stiff green stems. They can be used to add fragrance, color, and flavor to a variety of culinary and mixology applications.
Nutritional Value
Lavender flowers contain trace amounts of vitamin A, a nutrient that supports vision, reproduction, and immunity, as well as vitamin E, to help reduce inflammation and support the immune system. The buds are high in antioxidants, and the flowers have been used for centuries as a calming aid. Research shows that the linalool present in Lavender can help reduce anxiety and aid in relaxation. The flowers can also be used as a sleep aid and to soothe headaches, migraines, and motion sickness.
Applications
Micro Lavender flowers™ add a crisp, sweet, and floral flavor and are best suited as an edible accent, added at the end of preparation to maintain their delicate shape and texture. The entire wand is edible and can be used whole, or the individual buds can be separated and spread throughout a dish. Lavender flowers can top salads and grain dishes or be mixed into fruit bowls. The flowers can be added to sugar cookies, cheesecakes, shortbreads, scones, and cakes for a pop of flavor and color, or they can be mixed into butter or pressed into cheeses. The intact stems can be used to garnish cakes, cheese boards, and fruit displays or used as a cocktail stirrer. Lavender can also be used to accent desserts such as sorbets, pot de crème, crème brulee, ice cream, puddings, and tarts. The fragrant buds do well in spice rubs for poultry, and in citrus gastriques used to glaze seafood. They can also be added to salad dressings and marinades for spring vegetables or added to honey and drizzled on fresh goat cheese or yogurt. Lavender can be infused into vinegar, simple syrups, salts, and sugars. Micro Lavender flowers™ pair well with chocolate, berries, citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and tangerines; herbs including rosemary, marjoram, thyme, parsley, and mint; cheeses such as goat, ricotta, and farmers; leafy greens, and springtime vegetables including asparagus, peas, green garlic, and fava beans. The flowers should remain attached to the stem for as long as possible and be used within 48 hours for the best quality.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Intricately crafted cocktails and a throwback-style bar became popular in the first two decades of the 21st century. The glamorization of the roaring twenties and the United States prohibition, which span from 1920-1933, has led to the emergence of speak-easy bars with a twist. Instead of dark, dank underground bars with a seedy feel, modern speak-easies feature showy and ornate themes, and designs tucked away behind hidden entrances. These entrances include walk-in refrigerators, bookcases, and even completely functional businesses like The Barbershop in Las Vegas. The clientele at these establishments is made up almost entirely of Millennials, the generation born between 1981 and 1996 that is well known for their love of unique experiences, the primary design motivation behind these fun and kitschy bars. The menus at these establishments tend to feature prohibition-era cocktails crafted with higher-quality booze and fresh seasonal ingredients. One such cocktail that may be found on a speakeasy menu is a “Bees Knees." The origin of this cocktail is somewhat of a mystery, with some accounts saying it was created to mask the abhorrent flavor of the bathtub gin distilled during prohibition and others giving credit to a Parisian widow who survived the Titanic. The original recipe is simple, made up of only gin, honey, and lemon. A modern twist on this cocktail could feature different scented honeys and Lavender, a flower that pairs well with lemon, honey, and the botanical elements found in gin. Micro Lavender flower™ is a popular garnish amongst mixologists and is the perfect accompaniment to this sophisticated prohibition-era cocktail.
Geography/History
Lavender is originally native to the northwest regions of the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India, where the plants thrive in arid and mountainous climates. The flowers have been used as medicine and hygiene products for more than 2,500 years. Ancient Egyptians used the fragrant blooms during the embalming process, and Ancient Greeks and Romans added dried flowers to perfumes and soaps. The flowers were spread through Europe by Roman soldiers who planted the herb for its healing properties wherever the army settled. The plant faired surprisingly well in English gardens, and soon the flourishing variety became known as English lavender. By the Middle Ages, the plants were established at many monastery hospitals and manor houses. The Tudors are credited with moving lavender to the mainstream as an “herb of cleanliness and calm." The royal family was fond of using the herb in soaps, perfumes, and in sweets. Today, English Lavender is still grown extensively in the UK and is also naturalized across most warm and arid parts of the world. Micro Lavender flower™ was developed at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens and edible flowers since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins grows over 60 varieties of edible flowers and uses the mild and sunny Southern California climate year-round to produce flavorful, attractive, safe, and quality blooms. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Micro Lavender flower™ can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States and Canada.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Little Fox Cups + Cones | Oceanside CA | 978-994-1745 |
Wolf In the Woods | San Diego CA | 619-851-7275 |
Slowly | San Diego CA | 858-352-6080 |
Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
Born & Raised | San Diego CA | 619-944-1631 |
Pendry SD (Lion Fish) | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
Leila (Bar) | San Diego CA | 619-550-5412 |
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Bar) | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
Pacific Coast Spirits Bar | Oceanside CA | 925-381-5392 |
Venissimo Cheese Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-847-9616 |
Lovesong | San Diego CA | 602-502-3460 |
Cucina Urbana (Bar) | San Diego CA | 858-232-7808 |
Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
Snake Oil Cocktail Company LLC | San Diego CA | 619-754-4041 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Lavender MicroFlowers™. One is easiest, three is harder.
The Cake Blog | BLACKBERRY LIME CAKE | |
Hallmark Channel | RACK OF LAMB WITH KALAMATA OLIVES, FETA, EGGPLANT, OLIVE OIL POWDER, DILL AND LAVENDER MINT | |
Yummy Mummy | Asparagus Tart |