Lilac Tea

Learn how to make this charming floral tea from fresh, vibrant, and beautiful lilacs! Lilac tea can be made hot or cold brewed. Choose your favorite!

My favorite part of spring is all the beautiful blooms. Each year, the highlight of my spring is when my lilac bush begins to bloom! A few years ago, I wanted to remove the entire bush because it blocked my view when backing out of my driveway. I am so glad we decided to keep it! Not only does it smell wonderful, but it also makes a dainty cup of tea. Lilacs can be dried for future use, but I tend to use the fresh flowers, straight after clipping.

Lilacs

It is not a surprise that lilacs are prized bush in most gardens. According to the National Gardening Bureau “Lilacs are among the most carefree spring-flowering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrubs (or small trees), well-loved for their toughness, reliability, and fragrance.”

But not only are they beautiful and fragrant, but they are also edible! Chefs have been using the flowers to garnish and flavor dishes, both sweet and savory. 

But today, let us talk about my favorite way to use these purple flowers! Lilac tea is simple to prepare and can be made straight from your fresh blooms. There are a few cautions, so be sure to read on for tips to harvest safely.

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Why You Will Love This Tea!

• Full of health Benefits
• Wonderful Floral Aroma
• So Easy to Harvest and Prepare

What is in Lilac Tea?

• Fresh Lilac Flowers – I use freshly gathered lilac blooms from my bush. You can harvest your own, or purchase them. 
• Filtered Water – Water is so important in tea. Good filtered water will not only taste the best but it also helps bring to bring out the wonderful aroma of your tea. This is especially important in a light delicate tea such as this lilac tea.
• Sweetener (optional) – A drizzle of clover honey or wildflower honey is the perfect finish for this floral tea.

How to Make Lilac Tea

This tea can be made in two different ways, hot or cold brewed. Whichever method you choose, it is sure to be delicious!

Supplies

• Glass Pitcher with Lid
• Kettle or Saucepan
• Tea Strainer

Ingredients

• Fresh Lilac Blooms (rinsed and patted dry)
• Filtered Water
• Honey (optional)

Steps for Hot Tea.

1. Bring 1 cup of water to a simmer on the stovetop.
2. Add in lilac flowers. (about 1-2 Tablespoons)
3. Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
4. Strain out flowers and enjoy!

Steps to Cold Brew for Iced Lilac Tea

1. Fill a glass pitcher with 4 cups of water.
2. Add in lilac blooms. (about 4 tablespoons)
3. Allow flowers to infuse with water for at least 12 hours in the refrigerator.
4. Strain out flowers.
5. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• For cold brewing, I have left my blooms steep for 48 hours for a very floral taste. Lilacs can be a subtle flavor and steeping longer brings out the flowery notes without being bitter.
• Add a bit of honey for sweetness. In my opinion, a bit of sweetness brings out the best notes, especially in floral teas!
• If you have extra blooms, you can consider sugaring them to use to sweeten and garnish your tea.
• This tea is very light in color. Even after steeping for a long time, it is still very clear.
• Prepare your flowers by rinsing them and allowing them to gently dry on a towel. You can snip off the flowers using scissors, or use the whole cluster.

Storing Tea

Consuming freshly prepared tea is ideal, however, if you do have tea leftover, you can safely store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Properly store your tea by using a glass with a tight-fitting lid. If your tea develops an off-color or smells rancid, discard it and prepare a fresh batch.

Harvesting Lilacs

As you might have gathered, I enjoy the process of gathering my own blossoms for tea. While I do plant specific flowers solely for the purpose of harvesting and making tea, there are also countless wild-grown herbs, flowers, and roots that can be harvested from the wild. When foraging for your own ingredients, however, there are a few cautions and considerations to be aware of beforehand. 

• Make sure you have correctly identified your plant. There are many plant look-a-likes, so be sure to consult a field guide or your local naturalist for clarity. 
• Be sure the plant you are harvesting from a plant that has not been sprayed with any chemicals. 

More Herbal Tea Recipes You Will Enjoy

• Rosehip Tea
• Lavender Tea
• Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
• Chamomile Tea
• Roselle Tea
• Pine Needle Tea
• Mint Tea

I hope you enjoy this herbal tea recipe. Leave a comment below and let’s connect! If you try this recipe, please come back and leave a review!