The Lavender harvest of 2009
Over the last five years, drought has hit parts of Provence very hard. Yields of lavender in the mountainous areas are much reduced. In particular, earlier this year a severe frost of -17 degrees in April killed many plants. Our main supplier of organic lavender was only able to produce 30% of their normal crop.
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This year, what we have to offer is as follows:
Lavender Organic Appelation d’Origin Controlée (limited availability)
RSP: 8.50 euro -10ml 15.50 euro - 20ml
This oil is produced on a family farm where they have been growing lavender since 1916 and who’s oil we have been buying since 1985. It is grown on the Vaucluse Plateau near the town of Sault. This is one of the only farms which is both organic and A.O.C certified. This oil is of exceptional quality and represents excellent value.
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The Lavender varieties
There are many different varieties of Lavender, each with different qualities and uses. For example, a high yielding hybrid variety known as Lavandin is largely used to improve the fragrance of washing powders. Over1,000 tons of this is produced in France. Other relatively inexpensive Lavender oil is primarily used to fragrance toiletries and cosmetics.The finest oil of all comes from the mountains of Provence, lavender’s native region.
In this area there are two regulatory systems which help to define the quality of the oil. These are the Organic Certification, (generally Ecocert in this area) and the Appellation d’Origin Controlée (A.O.C.). These systems, in their different ways help to ensure that the cultivated Lavender replicates as far as possible the qualities of the wild plant
Organic certification ensures the plants are produced by natural methods without chemical fertalisers or herbicides etc. To be awarded the A.O.C, the oil must be produced at high altitude in Provence, generally 800 meters above sea level. It must be skilfully distilled to produce the characteristic smell - sweet, rich and complex. It must be reproduced from seeds collected off the wild plants from the region. Note: Only in France among the best producers are plants reproduced by seed rather then by cuttings. If you walk through a field smelling the flowers, each plant smells different. This gives the oil great richness and depth as the unique qualities of each individual plant contribute to the overall aroma.
Plants from cutting have a flatter, simpler aroma. They smell pleasant but lack the depth of aroma and would in all probability have lower therapeutic potential. Plants from cuttings have much higher yields and are easier to grow. Hence the vast majority of Lavender oil, both Conventional and Organic is produced this way.
Up until the early twentieth century, all French Lavender oil was produced from plants gathered in the wild. Demand grew and this was no longer feasible. Today, little wild oil is available. An oil which is both Organic and AOC in combination is now the best available.
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