cotton lavender

Ames
Ames Posts: 18,459 Forumite
Hi all, I've got a few cotton lavender plants and wondered if it's ok to use them in cooking? The card that came with them classifies them as a herb, but there's conflicting info on the web, some sites say you can, others that you can't.

can anyone shed any light?
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Comments

  • Geebee
    Geebee Posts: 3,081 Forumite
    Ames wrote: »
    Hi all, I've got a few cotton lavender plants and wondered if it's ok to use them in cooking? The card that came with them classifies them as a herb, but there's conflicting info on the web, some sites say you can, others that you can't.

    can anyone shed any light?

    Ames.. The Cotton Lavender plant is not related to the French or English Lavender plants that we tend to think of in terms of culinary use.
    There are a couple of varieties of the cotton Lavender plant and they can be used for cooking, the young leaves for salads etc and the older leaves for more like a vegetable type. Depending on the variety you have.

    Always exercise caution when using Herbs.... Natural doesnt necessarily mean safe.

    If you are unsure, maybe stick to using your plants for fragrance etc rather than adding to recipes. If you really want to try Lavender in cooking, you can order good quality culinary lavender online.

    HTH

    GB :)
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  • Ames
    Ames Posts: 18,459 Forumite
    Thanks for that, I didn't realise they weren't 'real' lavender. I think I'll have a look at getting some new plants for cooking, what type do you think is best?
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  • emiff6
    emiff6 Posts: 794 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Cotton lavender (Santolina) is more of a medicinal herb than a culinary one, though you can flavour soups etc with the leaves in the same way you'd put a bay leaf in - if you like the taste. The dried leaves are supposed to be good scattered among clothes or under heavy furniture standing on wool carpets for repelling clothes moths, and the growing plants apparently repel cabbage root fly and other pests. I've never tried it 'cos it's not a plant I like.

    I've read that handling the leaves can give people with sensitive skins a severe rash! :eek:
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  • foxgloves
    foxgloves Posts: 12,298 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I do sometimes use normal lavender in baking (scones & fairy cakes) but not santolina. Think it's more decorative. Pretty though.....it's made me want to get some. I had some in my previous garden.
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  • Ames
    Ames Posts: 18,459 Forumite
    I think I'll use it in the wardrobe and under the furniture then to scare away moths. I'm assuming I'd need to replace it regularly? Would I dry it first or just chuck a couple of branches in?

    Might pop out to the garden centre sometime.
    Unless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.
  • emiff6
    emiff6 Posts: 794 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Ooh, definitely dried, otherwise you might end up with mouldy leaves and mouldy clothes!
    If I'm over the hill, where was the top?
  • Ames
    Ames Posts: 18,459 Forumite
    How do I dry it?

    Sorry to ask such stupid questions, I really don't know the first thing about this sort of stuff.
    Unless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.
  • emiff6
    emiff6 Posts: 794 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Cut the stems on a dry day and tie the bottom of the stems together in bunches - not too many stems in a bunch, 6 or 7, you want the air to be able to circulate round them freely. Hang the bunches upside down in a dry airy place, (airing cupboard, spare room, garden shed etc) until the leaves feel crisp and dry.

    To put amongst clothes, it's best to put the dried leaves in a thin cotton bag or suchlike, otherwise you get leafy crumbs in your underwear! Either make little bags if you are good at sewing, or be inventive. An old cotton sock or pair of tights, or a cotton hanky knotted up are just as good, if not as pretty.
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