Eat Your Lilacs

Three Recipes to Celebrate This Fleeting Flower

Written by Andrée Noye, adapted from Les Mauvaises Herbes. Reading Time: 2 minutes

A vibrant bouquet of lilacs is held against a backdrop of a lush garden, with a colorful sky hinting at an early spring day. 📸Flowermag

Yes, it’s that time of year again—the “wow-what-smells-so-good-on-every-corner” season has officially begun! Lilacs are in bloom, and their soft floral scent charms anyone who walks by.

But lilac flowers aren’t just beautifully fragrant—they’re also edible! Before you start diving into floral sweets, here’s a heads-up: lilac blossoms taste nothing like they smell. Womp womp. But we love them anyway! You can eat them fresh or infuse them into syrups or drinks like a delicious lilac lemonade. Fresh, they taste slightly bitter (and yes, a little soapy, hehe), but when infused, they take on a lovely floral flavour.

Sound good? How about lilac sugar in your coffee or a spoonful of lilac jelly on your oatmeal? Yes?

OK, let’s go! We’ve got three great recipes to try with your fresh lilac flowers: a floral sugar, a plant-based “honey,” and a lilac lemonade (a.k.a. “lilanade”—get it?).

Don’t wait too long—the lilac bloom only lasts one to two weeks max. So go sniff some flowers and treat yourself while the season lasts!

IMPORTANT: Harvest mindfully and respectfully. This goes for all plants, even the so-called “weeds.” When foraging, it’s essential to leave enough behind for wildlife and pollinators. If you’re unfamiliar with what responsible foraging looks like, feel free to ask us at the Herbal Apothecary. #wehaveaworkshopforthat

Lilac Blossom “Honey”

A person gently drizzles golden "honey" from a wooden spoon into a jar, set against a lush backdrop of blooming lilacs. 📸 Les Mauvaises Herbes

Each May, the lilacs remind us that beauty and comfort often arrive quietly. Their scent, fleeting and nostalgic, carries us back to childhood gardens, open windows, and soft, blooming hedges.

This recipe captures that moment in a jar—without using any animal products. It’s a fully plant-based lilac syrup with the look, texture, and gentle sweetness of honey.

Delicious in teas, sparkling water, cocktails, drizzled on crêpes or toast, or simply enjoyed by the spoonful.

Recipe

Lilac Blossom Sugar

A wooden spoon scoops lilac-infused sugar from a jar, capturing the essence of spring blossoms in a delightful culinary treat. 📸 Les Mauvaises Herbes

Lilac season is fleeting, but its delicate fragrance doesn’t have to be. This lilac blossom sugar is a simple way to preserve the scent of spring and infuse your kitchen rituals with floral magic.

Sprinkle it over toast, stir it into tea or lemonade, dust it on shortbread cookies, or use it to rim a cocktail glass. It’s subtle, pretty, and unexpectedly delightful.

Recipe

Lilanade – Lilac Blossom Lemonade

A top-down view of a person preparing an herbal infusion, squeezing a lemon over a glass cup filled with purple lilac flowers and herbs on a wooden table. 📸 Les Mauvaises Herbes

Yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds. This lilanade (lilac lemonade) is a refreshing floral twist on a classic, with just the right balance of tart and perfumed. Perfect for garden days, full moons, or any time you want to bottle a little spring magic.

The lilac gives it a delicate aroma, a soft bitterness, and an almost whimsical colour that shifts from pale pink to golden lavender depending on your blossoms. Recipe found here!

Recipe