About Our Lavender History Harvesting Uses Cooking

History of Lavender

The word Lavender comes from the Latin lavandus “to be washed,” or lavare, “to wash.” This remarkable herb has been cherished for its unmistakable perfume as well as its medicinal properties since ancient times.

Native to the Mediterranean area Greece, France, Spain and the North African coast, it is believed that the Romans may have taken it north to England, where it is now an essential part of every English garden. In addition to valuing lavender for their baths, the Romans also took lavender into battle to dress their war wounds.

Lavender has been an essential herb in the medicinal garden dating as far back as 77 AD. It has been believed to cure everything from menstrual problems, upset stomachs, kidney disorders, jaundice and dropsy. Lavender is still used today for a number of therapeutic purposes including stress relief, soothing insect stings and curing headaches.

A common ingredient in the kitchens of Europe for centuries, lavender is just now gaining popularity as a culinary herb in the United States. A member of the mint family, lavender can be used in savory dishes as a substitute for the popular herb rosemary. It works well with sweet and citrus dishes. A staple of southern French cooking, Herbs de Provence is a savory herb blend with lavender as one of its main ingredients. Using Herbs de Provence is a great way to begin cooking with the sweet herb of lavender.