I have been using homegrown lavender in organic soap with great success. Recently, my daughter brilliantly wondered what fermenting kombucha with lavender would taste like. A portion of my next brew was fermented with lavender. We enjoyed it tremendously. The flavor had grassy, citrus, and flowery notes. It was quite different than the fruity kombucha I had been brewing. We enjoyed the variety and unique taste so much, I decided to double-down and experiment further by adding some Echinacea to my next brew. I just so happen to have this glorious perennial growing right beside the Lavender in my garden.
Echinacea, known to many as Coneflower, has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. Native Americans used the leaves and flowers as a painkiller and headache remedy. Among its other purported benefits are cold relief, skin health, and inflammation reduction. Because of all that, I decided to experiment with echinacea in hopes of enjoying similar benefits of using raw local honey to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms.
My brief History with Echinacea
Echinacea has always been a special plant in my flower garden. It’s beautiful and bountiful blooms last most of the summer and is a continual source of interest from pollinators, especially bees. Originally, Echinacea resided abundantly in the gardens in front of my house. They thrived in the afternoon sunshine which bathed the area. Until I was forced to relocate them to a different spot.
A couple of years ago, a construction project necessitated me to move numerous plants to other areas of my yard. Many perished but the Echinacea lived on. They were planted in a back yard area sharing space with their cousins, the Black-eyed Susans. Moving in with family yielded mixed results. The plants grew but they did not prosper. My Black-eyed Susans are a raucous bunch. It is not too surprising that the Echinacea got overgrown. I had to get them out of there in order to survive.
At the end of the summer, the plants went back to the front side of the house, but this time on the side. The sunshine and the competition level improved, however, the soil was too moist. My results improved marginally. At a similar time, I bought some Echinacea plants from the neighborhood kids at a plant sale. I plugged them into a spot close in front of the house close to the original, perfect location. They grew and flowered but they developed only modestly.
Finally, last spring, I moved my original Echinacea plants in tight with the purchased stock and the Lavender in front of my house. Voila! Moving in with immediate family keyed everything to flourish once again. If you consider planting Echinacea, place it in abundant sunshine with well-drained soil with plenty of room to develop. You will love the size, shape, and beautiful flowers of this plant.
How Did it Taste?
Let’s finally get to how the Echinacea & Lavender kombucha tasted. I thought it was an interesting change of pace from berry and citrus flavorings. To the nose, the smell of flowers and sweetness grab your attention. Once it hits your tongue, you pick up the same sweet, flowery taste. The fruity notes balance the acidity of the kombucha. I detected a hint of lemon but no citrus after taste on the back of the tongue. I found that interesting since there was no lemon in the batch. If you enjoy ginger in a tea or drink, you really should try lavender or echinacea as an alternative. I will definitely experiment further with both in future brews. I also may add bay leaves from my garden. They smell awesome. The combinations are endless.
If you are open-minded and willing to experiment with new combinations and flavors, grab something from your garden and incorporate it into your diet. Flowers and herbs have been used for thousands of years to enhance the taste and smell of a food or drink, as well as to stimulate natural healing practices. If you find the right spot in your garden, these plants are easy to grow and you will reap the benefits for years to come. Enjoy!