Lavender

Lavender tea is an infusion of the dried floral tops of true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), a Mediterranean Lamiaceae. Her name comes from Latin lavare — to wash. The evening companion par excellence, she is traditionally drunk before bedtime to put down the day's burden and soften the passage into sleep. INFUSE works with true angustifolia lavender, not the hybrid lavandin.

European tradition associates lavender with rest, calm and nocturnal protection. We slip her under the pillow, lightly burn her, infuse her in the evening to soften thoughts and prepare the night. The Romans perfumed bath water with her, medieval monasteries cultivated her. She is a plant of threshold, not a sedative — she opens the door that agitation kept closed.

Lavender is traditionally the plant of the sleep threshold. According to herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, she does not knock out — she opens the passage that rumination kept closed. Her gesture is that of the soft and repeated ritual, a cup at the same hour each evening, rather than a strong one-off action. For more difficult nights, she allies with more sedative plants.

Count about 1 teaspoon of dried flowers for 200 to 250 ml of simmering water (never boiling, around 80°C, to preserve aromas). Infuse 7 to 10 minutes covered, no longer — beyond, bitterness rises. Strain and drink in the evening, ideally 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime, in a calm moment without screens.

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) grows at altitude (above 600 m), with a fine and soft profile, the most sought for rest. Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia) is a hybrid cultivated in plains for yield, more camphor-like, less suited to the sleep threshold. INFUSE chooses true angustifolia, as Provençal tradition has done since the 19th century.

English folklore says that lavender slipped under the pillow gives true dreams. Rather than provoking visions, she works upstream — by calming the mind and stabilising the emotional field, she creates the inner space where dreams can emerge without tension. She is a gentle door into the night, often associated with more openly oneiric plants.

The flower in infusion is one of the safest of European herbalism. Simply avoid large quantities during pregnancy, remain cautious with sedative medications, and set her aside in case of Lamiaceae allergy. The essential oil, on the other hand, is never ingested without qualified accompaniment — not to be confused with the flower tea.

The classic European evening duo is lavender and noble chamomile — chamomile to digest the day and the belly, lavender to set the threshold and the head. Rose accompanies her for days heavy in heart, lemon balm for nocturnal anxiety. For dream work, she marries with mugwort and blue lotus.