Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail is the drink that makes every table look like it belongs in an editorial photo shoot. A softly blush purple color that deepens depending on the amount of lavender syrup used. A fragrant, floral aroma that rises from the glass before the first sip. Furthermore, the flavor is a perfect balance of sharp fresh lemon and delicate sweet lavender that is genuinely unlike anything else.
Moreover, this Lavender Lemonade Mocktail has become one of the most saved and shared drink recipes on Pinterest, particularly for spring and summer events, bridal showers, garden parties and weddings. For more beautiful drink recipes, also explore our Pomegranate Spritz Mocktail, our vibrant Strawberry Mango Smoothie Recipe and our full Drinks collection.
The Lavender Syrup in This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
The lavender simple syrup is the heart of this Lavender Lemonade Mocktail. Furthermore, making it at home takes only 5 minutes and produces a far more fragrant and flavorful result than any shop bought lavender syrup. Consequently, the homemade syrup is what gives this drink its extraordinary depth of floral flavor.
Using Food Grade Lavender
Always use food grade culinary lavender rather than ornamental or garden lavender. Furthermore, ornamental lavender may contain pesticides and has a significantly more pungent and sometimes soapy flavor that makes the finished drink unpleasant. Consequently, food grade culinary lavender is essential for a beautiful and safely edible result.
How Much Lavender to Use
Less is more with lavender. Furthermore, too much lavender produces a soapy, almost medicinal flavor that overwhelms the lemon and makes the drink unpleasant. Moreover, the recipe quantities in this Lavender Lemonade Mocktail are calibrated to produce a beautifully subtle and floral flavor. Consequently, always start with the recommended amount and add more only if a stronger lavender flavor is specifically desired.
The Color of This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
The beautiful soft purple color of this Lavender Lemonade Mocktail comes entirely from the lavender syrup itself without any artificial coloring. Furthermore, the more syrup used the deeper the purple. Additionally, a small amount of butterfly pea flower tea added to the syrup deepens the color dramatically and creates one of the most visually spectacular natural purple drinks imaginable. Consequently, adding butterfly pea flowers is strongly recommended for occasions where visual impact matters most.
The Butterfly Pea Flower Magic
Butterfly pea flowers contain natural anthocyanins that produce a vivid deep blue color when steeped in hot water. Moreover, when mixed with the acidic lemon juice, the color shifts dramatically from blue to a brilliant purple or pink. Consequently, this natural color change creates a magical and photogenic effect that is one of the most popular drink trends on Pinterest and Instagram right now.
How to Make the Lavender Simple Syrup
The syrup is quick and easy. Combine sugar, water and dried culinary lavender in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 3 minutes. Strain out the lavender. Cool completely before using. Furthermore, the cooled syrup keeps in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Consequently, making a batch in advance means this drink can be assembled in under 2 minutes at any time.
How to Make This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
The assembly is beautifully simple once the syrup is ready. Combine freshly squeezed lemon juice, lavender syrup and cold water in a large jug. Stir well. Pour over ice in tall glasses and top with sparkling water. The full method is in the recipe card below.
Perfect Occasions for This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail is one of the most versatile and universally appropriate drinks in the TastelyBites collection. Furthermore, its elegant appearance and delicate flavor make it suitable for virtually any occasion.
Best Serving Occasions
- Bridal showers and hen parties where an elegant, beautiful and alcohol free drink is essential
- Garden parties and outdoor summer gatherings where its freshness and visual appeal are at their most impactful
- Baby showers as a sophisticated and universally appropriate drink for all guests
- Afternoon tea parties alongside our Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe for a beautifully coordinated lemon and lavender themed spread
- Wedding receptions as the most elegant alcohol free option for all guests to enjoy
Easy Variations for This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
Frozen Lavender Lemonade — Blend the lemonade with crushed ice until slushy. Moreover, this frozen version is one of the most popular summer drink variations on Pinterest and is extraordinarily refreshing on hot days.
Lavender Honey Lemonade — Replace the caster sugar in the syrup with raw honey. Furthermore, honey adds a more complex, slightly floral sweetness that complements the lavender flavor even more beautifully than refined sugar.
Lavender Mint Lemonade — Add a small handful of fresh mint leaves to the jug. Additionally, the cooling mint against the floral lavender and sharp lemon creates a three flavor harmony that is deeply refreshing and sophisticated.
Butterfly Pea Lavender Lemonade — Brew butterfly pea flowers in hot water and add to the syrup. Consequently, the dramatic blue to purple color change when the lemon is added creates one of the most visually magical and memorable drinks you will ever serve at a gathering.
Make This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail Today
In conclusion, this Lavender Lemonade Mocktail is the most beautiful, fragrant and impressive alcohol free drink you can serve in just 10 minutes. Therefore, whether it is a summer gathering, a bridal shower, an afternoon tea or a simple Friday evening at home, this recipe always creates a magical impression. Browse more of our wonderful Drinks recipes and share your results in the comments below!
Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
A dreamy soft purple lemonade with homemade lavender syrup, freshly squeezed lemon and sparkling water. Floral, refreshing and stunningly beautiful.
Ingredients
- The Lavender Simple Syrup (makes enough for 6 to 8 drinks)
- 150 gCaster sugar
- 150 mlWater
- 2 tbspDried culinary lavenderAlways use food grade culinary lavender - not ornamental or garden lavender
- Optional1 tsp dried butterfly pea flowers for deeper colorAdds a vivid blue that turns purple when mixed with lemon juice - magical effect
- The Lemonade (per jug serving 4 to 6)
- 150 mlFresh lemon juice (approximately 4 to 5 lemons)Fresh lemon juice only - bottled juice lacks brightness and flavor
- 80 to 100 mlLavender simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 500 mlCold still water
- 300 mlSparkling water, added per glass just before serving
- As neededIce cubes
- The Garnish
- As desiredLemon wheels or slices
- As desiredFresh or dried lavender sprigs
- As desiredEdible flowers such as viola or borage for the most beautiful presentation
Equipment
Method for This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail
- 1 Make the lavender syrup: Combine the caster sugar, water, dried culinary lavender and butterfly pea flowers if using in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Furthermore, the longer the steep the deeper the lavender flavor in the finished syrup. Strain through a fine sieve and cool completely before using.
- 2 Juice the lemons: Roll the lemons firmly on the counter before cutting in half. Moreover, rolling releases more juice from the fruit. Juice until you have approximately 150ml of fresh lemon juice. Furthermore, taste the lemon juice as the acidity varies between lemons. More or less syrup may be needed depending on how sharp the specific lemons are.
- 3 Mix the lemonade base: In a large jug combine the fresh lemon juice, lavender syrup and cold still water. Stir well. Taste and adjust the balance of sweetness and sharpness by adding more syrup or more lemon juice to your preference. Furthermore, the lemonade base can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Consequently, it is ideal for preparing ahead for a party.
- 4 Observe the color: If butterfly pea flowers were used in the syrup, the lemonade base will currently appear deep blue. Furthermore, as soon as the lemon juice is added and stirred it shifts dramatically to a brilliant purple or pink depending on the concentration. Moreover, this natural color changing reaction is one of the most magical and impressive effects in modern cocktail and mocktail culture.
- 5 Serve over ice: Fill tall glasses generously with ice. Pour the lavender lemonade base over the ice filling the glass about three quarters full. Top each glass gently with a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim, a sprig of lavender and an edible flower if available. Serve immediately while the sparkling water is at its most effervescent and the ice keeps the drink beautifully cold.
Nutrition (Per Serving - 1 glass with lavender syrup)
* Nutritional values are estimates per glass. Using a sugar free sweetener in the syrup reduces calories to approximately 15 kcal per serving. Using honey increases calories slightly but adds nutritional complexity.
Notes
- Always use food grade culinary lavender. This is non negotiable. Furthermore, ornamental lavender grown for gardens is often treated with pesticides and has a much more pungent, sometimes soapy flavor that makes the finished drink unpleasant and potentially unsafe. Consequently, culinary lavender is always the only acceptable choice for this recipe.
- Do not overuse the lavender. The recommended 2 tablespoons of dried lavender produces a beautifully subtle and floral flavor. Furthermore, doubling the lavender produces a soapy, medicinal flavor that most people find unpleasant. Consequently, always follow the recipe quantities and add more only very gradually if a stronger floral note is specifically desired.
- The lavender syrup keeps for 2 weeks refrigerated. Furthermore, making a batch in advance means the mocktail can be assembled in under 2 minutes at any time. Consequently, the syrup is the most efficient element to prepare ahead for a party or gathering.
- Add sparkling water per glass not to the jug. Adding sparkling water to the jug in advance causes it to go flat before serving. Furthermore, a flat sparkling lemonade loses the liveliness and celebratory quality that makes this drink so special. Consequently, always add the sparkling water glass by glass just before serving.
- This recipe makes enough lemonade base for 4 to 6 generous glasses. To make a larger batch for a party of 12, simply double all quantities. Furthermore, the lemonade base keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours making advance preparation entirely practical.
Tips for the Perfect Lavender Lemonade Mocktail Every Time
- Taste and balance the lemonade before serving. Lemons vary significantly in acidity and juice content. Furthermore, a lemonade that tastes too sharp needs more syrup and one that tastes too sweet needs more lemon juice. Consequently, always taste and adjust rather than following the quantities blindly as the acidity of fresh lemons is unpredictable.
- Use large decorative ice cubes if serving for a special occasion. Large ice cubes melt slowly and do not dilute the lemonade as quickly as small chips. Furthermore, clear large ice cubes in a beautiful tall glass alongside the soft purple lemonade creates a genuinely spectacular visual effect. Consequently, investing in a clear ice cube mold is worthwhile for occasions where presentation matters.
- Add edible flowers for maximum visual impact. Viola, borage and pansy flowers are all edible and readily available. Furthermore, floating a single edible flower in each glass transforms the presentation from beautiful to extraordinary. Consequently, for bridal showers, weddings and special events, edible flowers are always worth sourcing.
- Make a test batch of the syrup first. The strength of culinary lavender varies between suppliers. Furthermore, a test batch allows you to calibrate the exact amount of syrup needed for your preferred flavor intensity before making a large batch for a party. Consequently, a test run the day before an event prevents any flavor surprises on the day.
- Chill all ingredients thoroughly before assembling. A warm lemonade base requires significantly more ice to cool and becomes diluted quickly. Furthermore, thoroughly chilled lemon juice, syrup and water produce a crisper, more vibrant and longer lasting cold drink. Consequently, refrigerating all components for at least 1 hour before assembling is always recommended.