Yes, you can safely drink culinary lavender as a tea or flavoring in normal food amounts, but not lavender essential oil.
Safe ways to drink lavender
- Culinary lavender buds (often Lavandula angustifolia) can be steeped as an herbal tea or added in small amounts to foods and drinks and are generally considered safe for most adults.
- Typical tea amounts are around 0.5–2 teaspoons of dried buds per cup of hot water, steeped for a few minutes.
What to avoid
- Highly concentrated lavender essential oil should not be added directly to drinks or taken by mouth, because essential oils are very potent and can be irritating or toxic.
- Large supplemental doses of oral lavender (oils/capsules) can cause side effects like headache, nausea, diarrhea, or burping in some people.
Who should be cautious
- Pregnant people, breastfeeding people, young boys, and anyone with known lavender allergies should talk with a healthcare professional or avoid lavender tea, as lavender may have hormonal effects or trigger allergic reactions.
- Anyone who notices rash, throat irritation, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, or digestive upset after drinking lavender should stop using it and seek medical advice.
