• small handful of freshly picked and rinsed lavender flowers or a tablespoon of dried lavender flowers
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 1/2 cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups or more of cold water
• Ice cubes
- Cut or strip the lavender flowers from the stems and place in a large bowl. Pour the sugar over the flowers and use your (clean) fingers to gently rub the flowers into the sugar.
- Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the lavender and sugar and stir with a spoon until the sugar has melted. Cover and leave to infuse for 30 minutes (or up to several hours).
- Strain the lavender-infused syrup and pour into a serving jug or pitcher.
- Stir in the lemon juice. Add another two cups of water. Taste and adjust for tartness - add more lemon juice if too sweet or more sugar if too tart. Add ice and more water to desired level of concentration. (NB the ice will melt eventually, further diluting the drink).
- Serve with thinly-sliced lemon and lavender sprigs.