Henley Herald

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Heavenly Herbs – Lavender

Winter greetings from the warmth of my couch.
I’m writing this snuggled up with a hot water bottle and lots of blankets. In the heart of the winter season, it’s slim pickings with herbs, but one herb that can cope with the harsher weather is lavender, especially the Margaret Robert’s variety. It was especially developed for South Africa’s extreme heat in summer and cold, frosty winters. As you drive past the well-tended gardens of Henley on Klip, many have this specific lavender plant together with the ubiquitous snowy white Iceberg roses tinged with winter pink.

There are around 47 varieties of lavender (lavendula).
Lavender gets its name from the Latin verb “lavre,” meaning to wash. The Romans used lavender for washing, perfume, and healing. It is thought that the Romans brought Lavender to the British shores to treat the wounds of the Roman soldiers. In the Bible, the herb was known as Spikenard. Lavender was made into a very expensive perfumed oil that was used by royalty. The same perfume that the woman poured on the feet of Jesus. The Greeks and Egyptians used lavender for medicine and cleansing. Throughout the Middle Ages, lavender was used to combat bad odours; people didn’t bathe very often in those days. Even to this day, bunches of lavender are tied together to form a “smudge,“ which is lit, and the smoke is used to encourage good spirits and healing.

The most well-known varieties in South Africa are Lavendula X intermedia Margaret Robert’s, Lavendula angustifolia (English Lavender), which is very hardy and great for colder climates, and Lavendula stoechas (French Lavender), which is more delicate and suitable for warmer climates and is grown for its strong perfume.

Lavender may have many health benefits, including relieving anxiety and depression, helping with sleep problems, supporting skin health, and healing wounds. It can be consumed as an herb in food, used to make herbal tea, or used as an essential oil. Pop a bag of dried lavender under your pillow to help you fall asleep, or put it among your clothes to repel moths and bugs.
Lavender is really good at repelling mosquitos.

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Lavender Shortbread

This month’s recipe is delicious lavender shortbread.

Ingredients :
2 cups of flour (240 g)
115g butter ½
cup of castor sugar (100 g)
1 teaspoon fresh lavender buds and a few finely chopped leaves.

Method:
Cream the sugar and butter together in a mixer until pale and fluffy. Sift the flour into the mixture, add the chopped lavender, and beat gently until the dough comes together in a crumbly mix. If the dough is too stiff, add about 2 tablespoons of ice water. Take the mixture out of the bowl and knead until all ingredients are combined. The dough should not be sticky, so work on a floured surface. Roll into a log, 5 cm wide and 20 cm long, and wrap in cling wrap. Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Put some caster sugar on a board, take out the log from the freezer, unwrap, and roll in the sugar. Thinly slice into rounds and place on 2 baking sheets lined with baking paper, 5 cm apart. Bake for 20 minutes at 325° or 180°. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. Cool for 30 minutes and keep for up to 5 days in a tightly sealed tin. Alternatively, freeze the cookies between layers of baking paper.
Enjoy

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Lavendula angustifolia (English Lavender)
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Lavendula stoechas (French Lavender)
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Lavendula X intermedia Margaret Robert’s

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