Ah, here we are at the store! I just love this place.
In the front half of the store you can find dried and fresh lavender bouquets for sale, along with sachets, candles, eye masks covered in various shades of purple silk, lotions, bath salts and dozens of other products made from the lavender grown just a few miles away. Many are grouped in gift assortments and tied with royal purple gossamer ribbons. I always pick up a few to give as gifts, and as an extra bonus, my suitcases smell like lavender when I get home and open them!
This time, I think I'll pick up some of that massage oil that Hubby likes so much. And maybe a bundle of those hard-milled soap squares tied with ribbon.
As you wander through the store, don't miss the big glass jars on the counter near the register. They contain handmade lavender chocolate truffles. Some are dark chocolate with lavender, some are white chocolate with lemon zest and lavender. Both kinds are delicious. They'll give you a little round box and a ribbon, and you can put four of whatever flavor(s) you like in one to take home. (If it lasts long enough to make it home!)
Yes, you can eat lavender. Besides being wonderfully fragrant, it is a culinary herb. In fact, it's one of the main ingredients in the spice blend "Herbs de Provence." And this is where the shop gets interesting.........
The back half of the store is a cafe'. Everything served here contains lavender. Teas, coffees, even hot chocolate are flavored with lavender. It's warm today. I think I'll have the lavender lemonade, thank you. (Be careful, it's habit forming.)
Cakes, tarts, brownies...more than a dozen kinds of cookies. (My favorites are the lavender shortbread and lavender chocolate chip cookies.) Salads, even. Sandwiches made with breads containing lavender. The offerings are suitably creative. After you've eaten your fill, take a look around at the shelves on the outside walls. You'll find lavender honeys, sugars, oils, vinegars, spice blends, etc. You can buy bulk lavender buds by the pound. You can even find handmade doggie biscuits flavored with lavender. I bought a few of them, too. Our dog loves them. I also picked up some loose tea and some lavender salt and pepper in very cool bottles for gifts.
During the evenings, the Pelindaba Lavender store's cafe' hosts poetry readings, the occasional acoustic guitar performance, and other such gatherings. There is even a nice fireplace to take the chill off damp, foggy days or cool Pacific Northwest nights.
I could spend all day in this place.
Tomorrow, if you're interested, I'll take you out to their farm.
