By Sylvia Arad | Submitted On May well 07, 2010
To venture to Provence in July would be to be shed in a purple colored sea. Oceans of lavender just about everywhere - in patches, in waves, in great rows, area immediately after industry - the hillsides in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence are daubed in blue, mauve, gray and violet by terrific swathes of lavender in bloom. That is harvest time in Provence's lavender locations - the tractors are rolling, the distilleries steaming and lavender festivals are in whole swing.
Lavender, the emblem of Provence, continues to be developing in this article permanently. Its formal cultivation having said that is rather new, and it has specified increase to lavandin; a hybrid Variation employed additional for industrial reasons.
"Fantastic" or correct lavender is grown for its crucial oils. To qualify for that highly coveted AOC (Appellation of Managed Origin) - France's best stamp of approval - the lavender should satisfy quite rigorous standards, its generation restricted to 284 villages and cultivated in locations above 800 m inside the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Drome and Vaucluse. Employed for perfumes, in aromatherapy and medicinally, it have to also meet up with olfactory assessments, and Specific harvesting and distillation procedures.
Underneath the blazing Sunshine, this sensitive plant is harvested by hand by households steeped in its traditions, that have cultivated it for generations. It truly is then dried for times just before getting distilled. The distillation course of action is made of passing steam in the dried bouquets, that happen to be collected in bunches in a very however to extract their necessary oils. Several tactics are applied depending upon the lavender's use. To make one Liter of necessary oil, 287 lb. of high-quality lavender Prestige Lavender Fields is employed; for perfumes, the process is far more intricate taking up 2200 lbs. of lavender to produce 3 gallons of complete pure oil.
Provence Lavender Region Gives Terrific Mountaineering Vacations and Biking Routes
Lavender conjures up breathtaking vistas of blue fields, punctuated by red poppies, a patchwork of gold grain and occasional strands of oak and pine which extend to the hallucinatory blue horizon. This region is a biking and climbing paradise - biking routes abound for visitors who need to undertaking off- the-crushed-path over the "Route de Lavande" and mountaineering vacations around the "Grande Randonne" trails are an adventurer's dream. The imposing Luberon Mountains and Vaucluse simple function the backdrop for the magnificent panoramas of ancient villages perched on hillsides; While using the scents of rosemary, thyme, savory and never least, lavender.
The "Route de Lavande" potential customers website visitors by means of swathes of fragrant fields, gardens, distilleries, museums and villages. The many festivals, the largest hosted by Sault, show lavender floats and shows and supply not only bouquets and sachets, but all types of lavender-involved merchandise - creamy honey, scented candles and even aprons. Dining establishments offer lavender influenced menus and spas offer you thermal baths and massages with lavender oil.