The myriad wonders of lavender

Cosmetics made with lavender essential oil are the queens of beauty care. You can use this wonderful herb for skincare and countless other purposes.

Lavender is one of the most highly versatile herbs, spices and ornamental plants with the widest range of uses. In ancient times, the plant was synonymous with beauty care and has since remained a firm favorite throughout the world. Thanks to its pleasant fragrance and wonderful appearance, it's perfect as a decoration as well as a culinary delight.

The essential oil of this wonderful plant is used throughout the range of Manna products: Shea butter filtered through volcanic rock with lavender, A sigh of relief temple balm, Nourishing baby oil, Manna Lavender essential oil, the Your Manna 2018 soap, the Healthy locks soap - the list goes on! Some of our Mannas even include dried lavender petals, such as the Nourishing bath bomb with coconut milk and grape seed oil.

How to gather lavender?

It's best to gather small bunches directly from lavender fields, taking them home in paper bags. If you dry the lavender, its fragrance will linger for months on end. Hang a bunch of 20-25 lavender twigs upside down away from sunshine to preserve their magnificent color. The more well-ventilated the room, the better and faster it will dry out. It's worth keeping a piece of paper or a rag under the twigs to collect the scattered petals and seeds. Once it's dried out, you can keep the bunches upright. You can hang lavender in a wardrobe or even in the bathroom where it’s sure to spread its wonderful fragrance.

If you'd like to decorate your garden with the plant, choose a spot where the plant is sure to get plenty of warmth and sunshine. It can also take root in shallow, rocky soil, where the plant gets enough warmth.

You can use fresh lavender petals in gel syrups, fruit salads and desserts. You can even use it as a replacement for rosemary when grilling vegetables. Lavender ice cream is a truly exquisite summer delight thanks to its amazing color and incredible taste. Try using it with strawberries or adding it to lemonade.

Here is my favorite lavender recipe:

Lavender muffins
Ingredients:
Dry ingredients:
200 grams flour
100 grams oatmeal
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 pinch of salt
Wet ingredients:
2 eggs
175 grams sour cream
300 ml milk + 3 teaspoons of dried lavender
2 tablespoons of liquid sweetener (e.g. stevia)
optional vanilla aroma

How to prepare: Mix the lavender with the milk, let sit in the fridge overnight or for a few hours. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl (straining the milk first). Mix the wet with the dry ingredients. Pour the mixture into a greased muffin tin and bake in a pre-heated oven until golden brown in color.