See how to make lavender milk! A cup of this warming bedtime drink can help you relax and forget the stress of the day. This easy lavender moon milk recipe is ready in less than 10 minutes and uses natural, good-for-you ingredients.
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What is lavender moon milk?
Lavender milk, aka lavender moon milk, is a milk drink with lavender flavor plus chamomile, warming vanilla, ashwagandha, and a spoonful of honey.
Moon milk is a wellness drink that originated in India and has a long tradition in Ayurveda. The combination of herbal ingredients has a calming effect, can aid sleep, and beat insomnia. All good reasons to make this dreamy lavender milk part of your nighttime routine!
My friend Kristen Wood of Moon And Spoon And Yum is the queen of moon milks and has written an excellent guide on all things moon milk.
And for another delicious floral drink, try my sister Cyna’s rose milk.
What does lavender milk taste like?
Lavender milk tastes lightly sweet and floral with a delicate lavender flavor. The recipe is infused with fragrant lavender, chamomile, and vanilla. The aroma of these ingredients is reflected in the final product. The taste is also influenced by the type of milk you choose.
If you like lavender-flavored food, you might also enjoy this lavender tea and our lavender hot chocolate recipe. And if you need a treat with your lavender milk, try these lavender cookies and lavender chocolate truffles.
Lavender milk benefits for sleep
You may be asking yourself what’s so special about homemade lavender milk, so let me countdown the possible benefits of this moon milk recipe for sleep. Lavender moon milk can help to:
- promote relaxation
- boost sleep
- calm nerves
- lift your mood
- reduce anxiety
Ingredients for lavender milk
DIY lavender milk is a breeze to throw together. All you’ll need are these 7 ingredients (scroll down to the recipe card for the exact quantities):
- Milk: Lavender latte can be made with any milk you like or have available. Regular, dairy-free, full fat or skim will all work well. Cow milk, almond milk, and some other plant milks contain tryptophan, a sleep-inducing amino acid.
- Lavender: Edible lavender is the key ingredient in this homemade moon milk. Lavender contains compounds that calm the mind and decrease feelings of stress and anxiety. I also found a study suggesting that drinking and smelling 1 cup lavender tea each day positively affects wellbeing.
- Chamomile: My recipe includes dried chamomile flowers. Chamomile tea is an age-old folk remedy, and studies have shown that the herb really does help to relax and fall asleep faster.
- Vanilla has a mild sedative effect, and the sweet vanilla aroma alleviates anxiety and promotes deep sleep. Either use the seeds from a fresh vanilla bean (so, so good!) or vanilla extract.
- Ashwagandha powder (optional): Ashwagandha root is a popular Ayurvedic herb. The powder is said to ease stress and strengthen the immune system. You can find more information on this below.
- Sweetener (optional): Swirl a spoonful of raw honey or maple syrup into your lavender milk recipe for a light sweetness.
- Natural food coloring (optional) lends the drink a beautiful lavender hue. The colorant is optional, and you can omit if you prefer a more natural look. Read on to learn more about different coloring options.
Let’s look at some of the key ingredients:
Edible lavender
You can infuse your moon milk recipe with both dried lavender buds or fresh lavender flowers. If using dried buds, check that it’s culinary lavender intended for consumption. When you pick fresh lavender from your garden, rinse the stalks to remove dirt and insects.
You need 1/2 tsp dried lavender or 4 to 5 fresh lavender spikes for 1 serving.
What is ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an off-white powder made from the root of the Indian ginseng or Indian winter cherry. The ingredient has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. It improves the body’s ability to cope with stress and has a grounding effect.
Ashwagandha is part of a group of herbs that are known as adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbal pharmaceuticals that balance the body’s stress response on a molecular level and support your wellbeing.
Natural colorant
You have several options to color your lavender chamomile moon milk naturally:
- natural food coloring (made from plant and fruit extracts)
- blueberry powder
- grape juice powder
- maqui powder
- butterfly pea flower
- purple yam root
These fruit powders and herbs are full of nutrients and antioxidants, so they do serve a purpose in addition to being aesthetically pleasing.
Blueberry, maqui, and grape juice powder will add a fruity flavor, whereas ube powder and butterfly pea flower create a slightly earthy aroma.
To get the purple-blue lavender hue you see in the photos, I mixed the purple and blue from this set of plant-based food colors. Grape juice is responsible for the purple color, and the blue is a mix of spirulina and blueberry extract.
How to make lavender milk
Making lavender milk at home is so easy. You get a lovely floral flavor from the lavender and chamomile, with added aroma from the vanilla. If you’ve never made moon milk, here are the basic steps:
#1: Mix
- Add the milk, lavender, chamomile, ashwagandha powder, vanilla, and food coloring (if using) into a small saucepan. Whisk together.
#2: Infuse
- Warm over medium heat on the stove. Stirring occasionally, heat for 5 minutes, so the ingredients have time to infuse in the milk.
- A mild simmer with a little steam is best. Reduce the heat if lavender milk begins to boil.
#3: Strain
- Take the lavender milk off the heat and strain through a fine-mesh tea sieve into a cup or mug.
#4: Sweeten
- Stir in the honey or maple syrup. I used 1 tablespoon but feel free to use more or less according to your taste or none at all.
#5: Froth
- Optionally, froth with a milk frother to create soft lavender foam.
#7: Serve
- Enjoy warm before bed or whenever you want to unwind and relax!
- You can optionally dress up your lavender latte by sprinkling dried flowers on top. The flowers are kinda impractical but look super pretty.
And that’s it. Lavender vanilla milk literally comes together in 10 minutes.
Variations
Dairy-Free moon milk
To make dairy-free lavender milk, opt for any non-dairy milk alternative you like or have available. I especially love lavender almond milk and cashew milk. Soy milk, hemp milk, oat milk, and coconut milk are good options if you need nut-free, plant-based milk.
My friend Rebecca shares an easy recipe for homemade almond milk on her blog Becca ink.
Vegan lavender milk
Use your favorite plant milk and sweeten the moon milk with pure maple syrup or date syrup instead of honey. Hemp milk is an excellent choice for a nightcap because it contains naturally occurring CBD, further promoting sleep and reducing anxiety.
Lisa of Downshiftology shows how to make hemp milk in case you want to create your own.
Keto lavender milk
For a keto lavender moon milk, prepare the bedtime drink with keto-approved milk and a sugar-free sweetener. I recommend the simple syrup from Wholesomeyum Foods, made with allulose and monk fruit and has no weird aftertaste.
Almond milk is a great choice and if you like extra creaminess, replace 1/4 of the almond milk with coconut milk.
FAQ
How much does the recipe make?
The drink recipe makes 1 cup / 240 ml / 8 oz lavender milk, 1 serving. Simply double or triple the ingredients to prepare more servings.
Do you drink lavender milk warm or cold?
For the best benefits, enjoy your moon milk. It warms up your tummy and makes you feel satiated. That being said, it’s delicious to drinking cold or iced lavender milk.
Can kids drink lavender milk?
Yes, kids can drink lavender milk. However, lavender is more of a grown-up flavor, so don’t be surprised if they don’t like the taste.
Be sure to sweeten the drink with maple syrup and omit the chamomile for under 1s because babies under 1 year should not consume honey or chamomile products.
Can I make lavender latte with milk powder?
Yes! Reconstitute the milk powder with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions and cook the milk as described.
Can I put lavender oil in my milk or coffee?
Only if the oil is approved for consumption! Essential oils are highly concentrated, and most aren’t safe to be consumed internally.
Storage instructions
Store leftover lavender milk in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Reheat before enjoying.
You can also prepare this moon milk recipe ahead of time. Let the warm milk cool to room temperature and store in the fridge. Be sure to strain the lavender latte first, as the taste of the herbs can be overpowering if you let them sit in the milk.
More ways to relax with lavender
In addition to drinking lavender-infused milk, there are a few more ways how you can enlist the calming qualities of lavender in your bedtime routine.
- Sleep spray: The scent of lavender is incredibly calming, and my DIY lavender sleep spray is perfect to create a soothing environment. Spritz a fine mist on your pillow or sheets before going to bed.
- Aromatherapy candle: Lighting a homemade lavender candle is another way to enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of lavender. My candle recipe uses lavender essential oil and smells so much better than store-bought candles.
- Lavender bath: Though day? Then take a lavender bath with this lavender bath salts recipe with Epsom salt and sea salt, lavender bath bombs, lavender shower steamers, or fun bubble bars.
Lavender Milk Recipe
Yield: 1 serving
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
See how to make lavender milk! A cup of this warming bedtime drink can help you relax and forget the stress of the day. This easy lavender moon milk recipe is ready in less than 10 minutes and uses natural, good-for-you ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 240 ml / 8 oz unsweetened milk of your choice (can be dairy or non-dairy)
- 1/2 tsp dried culinary lavender (can sub for 4 to 5 fresh lavender spikes)
- 1/2 tsp dried chamomile
- 1/4 tsp ashwagandha root powder
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract or the seeds of 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup or more to taste (optional)
- 1/2 tbsp natural food coloring (see tips above) or fruit powder
Instructions
- Mix. Add the milk, lavender, chamomile, ashwagandha powder, vanilla, and food coloring (if using) into a small saucepan. Whisk together.
- Infuse. Warm over medium heat on the stove. Stirring occasionally, heat for 5 minutes, so the ingredients have time to infuse in the milk. A mild simmer with a little steam is best. Reduce the heat if lavender milk begins to boil.
- Strain. Take the lavender milk off the heat and strain through a fine-mesh tea sieve into a cup or mug.
- Sweeten. Stir in the honey or maple syrup. I used 1 tablespoon but feel free to use more or less according to your taste or none at all.
- Froth. Optionally, froth the lavender milk tea with a milk frother to create soft lavender foam.
- Serve. Enjoy warm before bed! You can optionally dress up your lavender latte by sprinkling dried flowers on top. The flowers aren’t overly practical but look pretty.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 251Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 131mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 0gSugar: 31gProtein: 9g
