In contrast to the real lavender that grows in the mountains, the French lavender with its characteristic, distinctive flowers comes from the coastal regions of Spain, where it mainly grows on Madeira and Tenerife. It contains significantly more essential oils than other types of lavender and is particularly suitable for use as a medicinal plant, but also as a spice in the kitchen.
French lavender as a medicinal plant
French lavender oil is mainly used in aromatherapy, but also for massages. The coveted oil - its rather bitter scent is strongly reminiscent of camphor - is obtained by steam distillation, which is not a conventional greasy oil. Essential oils are characterized by the fact that they are water-soluble and therefore evaporate without leaving any residue in fragrance lamps.
Make your own massage oil
For a homemade massage oil, add a few drops of French lavender oil to conventional jojoba oil. But be careful with the dosage, it should only be a few drops! Massaged in well, this oil helps with tension and circulatory disorders.
Dried flowers as a tea infusion
The dried flowers of the French lavender are ideal for a lavender flower tea, which can have a relaxing and antispasmodic effect. It is best to drink a cup of it just before going to bed, as lavender has a sleep-inducing effect.
French lavender in the kitchen
While the flowers can be used to decorate various dishes, the tips of the young leaves can be used as a spice, like rosemary. The slightly tart aroma goes particularly well with fish and lamb dishes, especially when they are stewed. When dosing, however, make sure that you use the fresh leaves very sparingly, because the high saponin content quickly leaves a strong soapy aftertaste. Combine the leaves best with other Mediterranean spices such. B. thyme, sage or rosemary.
tips and tricks
The intense scent of French lavender drives away annoying insects such as mosquitoes. To do this, vaporize a few drops of the essential oil in an aroma lamp or sew the dried flowers into a scented sachet. Alternatively, you can first braid the freshly harvested blossoms together with their stems and then dry them - this is also a pretty decoration for the living area.
IJA