BEAUTIFUL BOTANICALS: Lavender’s roots go back to Ancient Eqypt
Beautiful Botanicals by Joanne Howdle
Lavenders are a member of the Lamiaceae family, which is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint family.
It is widely believed that lavender originated in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and India around 2500 years ago.
The most common form of lavender is English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which despite the name, is native to the mountainous areas of Mediterranean France, Italy and Spain.
However, taken home by early travellers the botanical rapidly spread to other parts of the world, and by the 16th century lavender was already a much-loved plant in British gardens.
All lavenders are pronouncedly aromatic, with silvery, pointed leaves and spears topped with tight clusters of purple-pinkish flowers.
The most aromatic lavender is harvested when the flower buds are on the cusp of opening.
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Though the whole plant contains the distinctive aroma, it is usually only the buds that are used. Lavender buds have a floral aroma with a clean, earthy, and pine resin taste.
Lavender was used in Ancient Egypt to make perfumes and in the mummification process. When the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun (circa 1341 to circa 1323 BC) was opened by British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter in 1922 traces of lavender were found and its scent could still be detected.
In Ancient Rome public bathhouses were scented with the botanical and the name lavender is derived from the Latin verb lavare - to wash. Lavender is thought to have been introduced to Britain by the Romans. Being a natural antiseptic, it was used amongst other things by the Romans to dress battle wounds, help repel insects, and as a spice in cooking.
In the past lavender was strewn on the floors of castles and sick rooms as a disinfectant and deodorant.
The botanical was also burned in sickrooms to purify the air and was also placed in linen closets as an insecticide to protect linens from moths.
Christian homes used to hang a cross made of lavender over the door as a safeguard against evil.
Lavender has a long history of use in herbal medicine and is used to treat anxiety and hyperactivity; to treat insomnia and improve sleep quality, and to relieve the pain associated with headaches, toothaches, sore joints, and rumbling digestive systems.
Lavender is one of the oldest perfumes used in Britain and in the 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I used the botanical both as a perfume and in her tea to treat migraines.
By the time of The Great Plague in 1665, lavender was even thought to help protect people from becoming infected and to cure those who had contracted the plague.
Over the coming centuries, the use of perfume became increasingly popular and so lavender has remained favoured for its fragrance and antiseptic qualities.
Today lavender’s innumerable uses as a fragrance and antiseptic range from potpourri, candles, soaps, aromatic pillows, shaving creams, body lotions, lip balms and cleaning products.
Lavender flower buds can be dried and used to make flavoured vinegars and jellies, herbal teas, cordials and soft drinks.
In cooking lavender is used to flavour biscuits, cakes and desserts.
In gin production, English lavender is used by distillers. However, the botanical is only used in small quantities due to its high oil content and strong flavour. Lavender adds a fragrant floral note to the spirit with a hint of pine resin which, in balanced amounts, is a great accompaniment to gin. Lavender is also used in post-distillation infusions or as the flavour of a signature botanical gin.
Joanne Howdle is interpretation and engagement manager at the multi-award winning Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd.
