There is little more refreshing on a sticky-hot summer day than a glass of sweet, ice-cold lemonade. There is one thing, though: Lavender-Mint Lemonade. The sweet floral taste and aroma of the lavender, paired with refreshing mint, is a welcome addition to a summertime staple.

The process is simple, yet the result is stunning. Merely add the lavender and mint to the simple syrup while it is still hot to steep the flavor into the syrup. You can make this syrup ahead of time, and keep it in the refrigerator until you want to make the lemonade.

Pour this delightful concoction into a tall glass, pop in a cute straw and maybe a fresh mint leaf or a few extra buds of lavender, and head outside. A drink this refreshing is best enjoyed on the porch swing.

Lavender-Mint Lemonade
2 cups water
¾ cup sugar, or to taste
¼ cup dried culinary lavender (free of sprays and pesticides)
¼ cup fresh mint leaves
6-8 lemons
5 cups of cold water
Ice cubes

Boil the sugar and 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the lavender and mint leaves, and let steep for 5-10 minutes, depending on how strongly flavored you want your lemonade to taste. Let the sugar-water mixture (simple syrup) cool. Meanwhile, juice your lemons and strain out any seeds or juicy bits. You can save some of the lemon zest and add that to the lemonade as well, if you wish, or freeze it to use in baked goods later (just be sure to zest before you juice!). Pour the lemon juice into the bottom of a large pitcher, add the simple syrup, and the cold water. Stir, and taste. Add more sugar, lemon juice, or water as necessary until it tastes like summer! Add ice cubes at the last minute to avoid watering the lemonade down.

Photo taken by author