Culinary Lavender
Culinary lavender is an intensely aromatic flower used in tea and baking, rich in the relaxing terpene linalool and antioxidant polyphenols.
Nutrition · per ~2 g serving · ≈ a pinch
- Vitamin C0.08 mg<1% DV
- Magnesium1.6 mg<1% DV
- Calcium4.3 mg<1% DV
- Potassium12.0 mg<1% DV
- Iron0.04 mg<1% DV
- Polyphenols~3.0 mg
Score · 86/100
Vitamins & minerals packed in relative to calories — the single biggest driver of the score.
How much protein it delivers, by absolute grams and per calorie.
Dietary fiber for gut health, satiety and steadier blood sugar.
Fat quality — unsaturated vs saturated, and trans-fat free.
Polyphenols, flavonoids and other beneficial plant compounds for this food group.
Low sugar with a high fiber-to-carb ratio scores best — gentler on blood sugar.
- Magnesium19% DV
- Calcium17% DV
- Potassium13% DV
- Iron11% DV
- Vitamin C4% DV
Overview
Culinary lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), also called English lavender, is a fragrant Mediterranean shrub whose dried purple buds are used as both a delicate seasoning and a soothing herbal infusion. Native to the dry, sunny hillsides of southern Europe, it has been used since antiquity in perfumery, bathing, and medicine, and food-grade angustifolia varieties carry the softest, least camphorous flavor. The dried buds are concentrated, so per-100g figures are high on paper while real culinary servings are tiny pinches. Lavender's character comes overwhelmingly from its volatile oil, dominated by linalool and linalyl acetate, the terpenes responsible for both its signature scent and its best-studied calming effects: inhaled and orally administered lavender oil have shown anxiety-reducing and sleep-supporting activity in clinical work. The buds also supply rosmarinic acid and other polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Because the aroma is far stronger than the taste, lavender is used sparingly to perfume sweets, honey, and herbes de Provence, or steeped alone or with chamomile into an evening tea. As a tea or pinch-scale seasoning it contributes negligible calories or macronutrients; its value is aromatic and bioactive rather than nutritional.
Health Benefits (3)
- Promotes relaxation and reduces anxietymoderateLinalool and linalyl acetate modulate GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission and inhibit voltage-gated calcium channels, producing a calming, anxiolytic effect demonstrated for oral and inhaled lavender oil
- Supports sleep onset and qualitymoderateThe same terpenes lower autonomic arousal and sympathetic tone, easing the transition to sleep when taken as an evening infusion
- Provides antioxidant protectionlimitedRosmarinic acid and related polyphenols scavenge free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation
Food Pairings
- ·Pair with honey and lemon because their sweetness and acidity balance lavender's perfumed intensity and prevent a soapy note
- ·Combine with chamomile in a tea blend because both contribute calming bioactives for an evening infusion
- ·Use with berries and vanilla because their fruity sweetness complements the floral terpenes in baking
Practical Tips
- ·Use only a pinch; food-grade English lavender turns soapy quickly when overdone
- ·Cover the cup while steeping to trap the volatile linalool that drives the calming effect
- ·Store buds airtight away from light and heat to preserve the aromatic oils
Optimal Timing
Lavender's calming linalool aroma is best used before sleep to support winding down.
As a tea or pinch seasoning it adds negligible calories and is fasting-compatible.
Systems supported
body systems this food feedsPathways supported
biochemical reactions enabled by this foodCompared to other herbs & spices
Per 100 g of the default form. Bars show how much higher or lower culinary lavender is than the average across 76 peer foods in this category. Green means a favorable direction; amber means the opposite.
What people ask about culinary lavender
What is culinary lavender?
Culinary Lavender is classified as a herbs & spices. Culinary lavender is an intensely aromatic flower used in tea and baking, rich in the relaxing terpene linalool and antioxidant polyphenols.
Is culinary lavender healthy?
Culinary Lavender scores 86/100 in Formulate, making it a great choice. Its strongest contributions come from Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium. The score blends nutrient density, fiber, healthy fats, protein quality, bioactive compounds, and glycemic impact.
Is culinary lavender high in protein?
Not particularly. A 2 g serving provides about 0.1 g of protein (~0% of the 50 g daily value).
Is culinary lavender high in fiber?
Not really. A 2 g serving provides about 0.8 g of fiber (~3% of the 28 g daily value).
Is culinary lavender keto-friendly?
Yes — it fits comfortably in most keto plans. A 2 g serving has about 0.4 g of net carbs (1.2 g total minus 0.8 g fiber).
When is the best time to eat culinary lavender?
Best in the evening. Lavender's calming linalool aroma is best used before sleep to support winding down.
How much culinary lavender should I eat?
A typical serving is around 2 g (~6 kcal), based on the FDA's Reference Amount Customarily Consumed for this food category. There's no fixed daily target — most adults benefit from rotating culinary lavender alongside several other herbs & spices sources.
What pairs well with culinary lavender?
Culinary Lavender pairs nicely with: Pair with honey and lemon because their sweetness and acidity balance lavender's perfumed intensity and prevent a soapy note; Combine with chamomile in a tea blend because both contribute calming bioactives for an evening infusion; Use with berries and vanilla because their fruity sweetness complements the floral terpenes in baking.
Supplements that mirror Culinary Lavender's nutrient profile
Encyclopedia entries that supply the same signature nutrients culinary lavender contributes. Click through to see clinical dose ranges, evidence quality, and bioavailable forms.
Signature nutrients in Culinary Lavender
These are the nutrients culinary lavendercontributes meaningfully toward (≥10% DV per 100 g serving). Click one to see what it does in the body, which supplements concentrate it, and which other foods are top sources.