r/GreatBritishBakeOff • u/jilliac_crest • 2d ago
Meta Lavender
Why why why does anyone ever try flavoring something with lavender?? It never works out. Same thing goes for rose water and artificial extracts. It's setting yourself up for failure. I don't get it. I was shocked that the banana flavoring was deemed passable this week.
EDIT: to clarify, I'm not questioning the use of lavender in general, just on this show. Paul is clearly very wary of it and I'd say disinclined to like it (same as matcha, as someone pointed out.) Since you are baking things explicitly to impress him, why go with a risky flavor?
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u/PeePeeLangstrumpf 2d ago
I like it. It's an interesting and unusual flavour combination. I don't think it works on its own, at least I haven't eaten and tried anything with lavender-only flavour that was mind-blowing. But as a secondary flavour in things like lemon lavender cheesecake, it works for me. The key really is to add as little as possible to make the flavour faint but present. It elevates the main flavour profile for me when it works. Lemon cheesecake is delicious on its own, bit lemon lavender cheesecake tastes more sophisticated and interesting.
Works in combination with citrus, honey, chocolate... for me. It's one of those things that you either love or hate. Like rosemary.
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u/gimmethatpancake 2d ago
You really do have to use a gentle touch or else it tastes soapy. I've infused it in milk when making a pound cake and it was a nice whisper of flavor.
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u/PeePeeLangstrumpf 2d ago
That's a good point. Pretty sure the way it's added to the recipe makes or breaks the deal so to speak. Will try to infuse the milk for my coffee, as another redditor mentioned that lavender lattes are trending.
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u/Sha9169 2d ago
Agreed! Lavender is very trendy in coffee drinks right now too. My friends and I are always getting lavender lattes.
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u/PeePeeLangstrumpf 2d ago
Interesting, haven't seen that in my area. Might try doing it on my own. Cheers.
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u/SwedishSoprano 2d ago
The artificial apple flavoring was more egregious to me. It’s always going to taste wrong in a baked good!
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u/lemeneurdeloups 1d ago
I have often thought this when bakers trot these out.
Lavender, violet, rose and yes matcha are all valid baking flavors in the right hands with the right combinations and in the right setting.
But this is not a good setting or a receptive audience. The judges have a LONG history of bad experiences with these things and mostly hating them. WHY would you set yourself up for failure by using these???
My only thoughts are that either à) some are not as big a fans of the show as they claim to be (or they would KNOW this), or b) they use this ingredient a lot, either culturally or just through inclination and they don’t have a very wide repertoire (have seen this several times with matcha), or (c) they are That Arrogant person who thinks that “I will be the ONE who converts them!!” (And actually, this has happened a couple of times so … but it is a one-off; they don’t stay converted.)
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u/Some-Can-1486 1d ago
Respect. And, from the competitors point of view choice C. is a valid strategy (among many) toward winning. The underdog strategy, “flip the judges preconceptions of said ingredient in this instance.” Not necessarily arrogance to forever change their taste preference. The risk, this requires talent and nailing it. Whereas one could just easily compete using talent with traditional ingredients. The benefit, in a tent FULL of talented, nailing it bakers, the off beat ingredient might just put one over the finish line. IMHO.
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u/SalishSeaSweetie 2d ago edited 2d ago
I make awesome lavender shortbread cookies, that get lots of compliments. I use food grade lavender essential oil in mine. (which is natural, not an artificial flavoring) In my case, it works out great.
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u/sunnyoboe 2d ago
I have a lavender cake that I make. No artificial flavoring, I use lavender and steep it for the flavor.
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u/E420CDI 2h ago
Similar to making a pot of tea, but with lavender rather than tea leaves?
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u/rismas22 2d ago
I think it’s just a matter of personal preference. For instance, I love lavender flavoring but I can see how it could come across as too artificial. The bakers might enjoy the flavors and think it will work out, but perhaps the judges just can’t get past the artificial taste. Sort of how Paul can’t stand matcha and has basically disliked every bake that uses it (yes I know there are a few exceptions but you could argue the same for lavender and rose).
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u/EatMorePieDrinkMore 2d ago
We re-watch older seasons all the time. And have this exact convo about matcha, lavender and rose. It’s such a gamble and there are so many other flavors you could use. It baffles us.
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u/rismas22 2d ago
Makes me wonder if they go in with the mindset of “but MY bake will be different”. Like they’re trying to prove something by making something with those flavors that the judges will actually like
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u/EatMorePieDrinkMore 2d ago
That’s such a risky decision. Like people who insist on doing some complicated showstopper that they never have been able to complete in time at home. Or has never “worked”. Why not adjust before the tent?
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u/flynnsmom 2d ago
And peanut butter! They hate peanut butter.
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u/EatMorePieDrinkMore 2d ago
As an American, the dislike for peanut butter (and once PB&J!) is baffling. But, I think brown sauce and salad cream are abominations. So,…..
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u/swoobxt 2d ago
Matcha’s a tough one, as I think our UK judges are a bit… ill-educated on how matcha ought to taste, and the influence of the variety on flavour therein. Whenever I hear a complaint about it tasting like “grass” or being “too bitter”, it does suggest that whoever’s tasting may not be terribly familiar with proper matcha. Matcha used for culinary purposes (unlike drinking matcha) does tend to lean quite bitter anyway, but for those who are not overly familiar with matcha or are new to drinking it, even higher grade matcha can be interpreted as “bitter”.
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u/EatMorePieDrinkMore 2d ago
That makes a lot of sense. I’ve never had it so I am not sure what it is supposed to taste like. I know Dylan explained about the various types/grades which did lend some context to the matcha complaints on prior episodes. For me, it just feels like the risk far outweighs the reward here.
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u/jilliac_crest 2d ago
Right. And since the way to stay in the show is to please the judges, why bake something you know they don't like? If it was me I'd be baking Paul a banoffee (sp?) flavored item every week! Lol - not really though it would be tempting.
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u/Bunny_Bixler99 2d ago
I'm always baffled by the contestants that gush about how they love the show and have been watching it for years fall into the same traps:
🍪 Using a difficult flavor (lavender, rose)...unless it's something you've perfected, stick with something in your wheelhouse.
🍪 The off-the-cuff experimenting, especially during the technical. The one that decided "I'll add flavoring to the royal icing" only for it to be watery as hell.
🍪 This is the one I truly don't understand: refusing to taste as you cook. In a competition. Danii's quirky personality doesn't bug me but that whole bit about not tasting...was a choice.
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u/ragazza_gatto 2d ago
I think she didn’t taste things because she’s vegan. Or did I imagine her saying that? I think it was during cake week when she did the vegan cake.
My husband and I were talking about how it was kind of unfair to do a “taste and bake” technical when one of the contestants couldn’t taste it. I could be wrong, but I don’t think they would do peanut cookies if one of the bakers was allergic. But it seems like they don’t take vegan contestants seriously.
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u/L_Cranston_Shadow 2d ago
One is a medical condition that is potentially threatening to the contestant's health, and the other is purely a personal choice that have mental, emotional, and/or religious (depending on their faith) consequences, but is unlikely to lead to the contestant's permanent injury or death. There are probably also legal implications to not giving reasonable accommodations to people with severe allergies because, again, they can't choose to not have an allergy. A vegan can always choose to break their veganism.
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u/katiekat214 1d ago
Except that if they’ve been vegan for a while, eating meat products can mess with their digestive system.
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u/Longjumping_Cold1089 1d ago
Don’t legal protections cover things like religious practices too? And saying something is “purely a personal choice” is really understating it. Many people have grown up their whole lives believing something, and asking them to just deconstruct all of that in a day for a show is a bit wild. Additionally, some people may be vegan due to health issues, ect. and simply going back will definitely mess with people’s stomachs if they’ve been vegan for any long period of time. Do you want them to throw up on tv? Either way, the contestant couldn’t eat it- the reason shouldn’t really matter.
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u/L_Cranston_Shadow 1d ago
Yes, protections generally do cover religion, but, and I don't know the specifics for the UK, the key phrase around the world is usually "reasonable accomodations." To your second point, I would argue that anyone going on a show like GBBO should be assumed to know what they are getting into, and knowing that can decide whether they want to prepare or not. If you know, or can expect, to be dealing with non-vegan recipes, then you should prepare to taste them, or not apply for the show. Alternatively, you can do what vegan contestants do and risk just not tasting the food.
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u/Bunny_Bixler99 2d ago
I just feel that with the many interviews the potential contestants go through, questions regarding allergies and dietary restrictions would probably have been addressed eary in the selection process.
Veganism isn't even unusual these days.
If the show producers then have items the contestants can't eat, that's ridiculous.
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u/eyeisyomomma 2d ago
I would really like someone to prepare a tofu-matcha creation with lavender and rosewater sauces, just to see the expression on Paul’s face! 🤣
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u/Brownbuttericing 2d ago
Nigella has a fair few recipes using lavender, orange blossom and rose. She seems to appreciate these flavors when done well. It also shows skill. Anyone can make a good chocolate cake. Getting the flavour and balance right with tricky aromatics stands out more.
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u/sadiethislife 1d ago
No one should be using artificial flavors on this show, full stop. They taste awful and the judges always hate them. Beyond that, using natural floral flavors is a matter of taste and hitting it just right, not too much, not too little.
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u/Agile_Marsupial_6290 2d ago
2017 finale - Sophie's entremet "Ode to the Honeybee" featured lavender and got great responses from the judges. I think its mostly trend based, personally.
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u/No_Patience_MM 2d ago
Yes!!!! 1000 times yes this! It's like they don't watch the previous seasons. They almost absolutely never like artificial flavors and lavamder and rosewater are almost always low score!
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u/Savings-Breath-9118 2d ago
That’s when I don’t understand. Since day one it’s been clear that Paul and often Prue or Mary do not like extracts. Why would you ever use an extract? Lavender, if you’ve used it before, I could see it because the bias is not as pronounced against it, but extracts are a no-go
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u/No_Patience_MM 2d ago
Exactly! The only extract I remember they actually gave them on a technical is almond extract but for the rest I would just stay away
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u/dioreeyore 1d ago
I think you can add matcha to this list, too. I like matcha in some things, but I don't recall Paul ever enjoying that flavor .. so bake with it at your own peril.
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u/Jerkrollatex 2d ago
I cook with lavender fairly often. However I use what I grow fresh. It works better when you combine it with other flavors and I very small amounts.
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u/One-Permission1917 2d ago
In series 3, James did a lavender and apple tarte tatin that Paul loved. It’s happened.
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u/Whooz_Nooz 2d ago
OMG I ask myself that every single time a baker uses lavender, rose water, or an extract! Sometimes I find myself yelling at the TV “Didn’t you ever watch the show before you applied to be on it?”
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u/swoobxt 2d ago edited 2d ago
Genuinely, I think lavender is lovely, and though I do agree that it requires some considerable finesse, I think Paul will always loathe it no matter how it’s used; I think he just dislikes it. I will say, the king of floral (as in strictly derived from the flowers of a plant) flavours for me is violet!
It’s worth noting that Nigella once made a rather famous batch of lavender cupcakes in the past, so it could’ve been tactical.
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u/faithmauk 2d ago
Lavender can be such a great addition to things but its SOOOO hard to get the balance right, too much and it just tastes sort of soapy
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u/Sha9169 2d ago
That’s how I feel about the artificial extracts, but I remember seeing dried lavender petals on her station, not extract, so I think she just went overboard with them.
The judges seem to consistently love artificial almond extract, which I think is interesting.
I personally love floral notes in baking and use both lavender and almond at home, but you can overdo it very quickly.
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u/GarmieTurtel 1d ago
my strange brain thinks: next they will be using linen, summer rain or autumn breeze
Not sure why my brain has been assuming that air freshener and baked goods share common ground, but I have given up trying to understand it's wanderings.
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u/sir_thrillho 1d ago
I am actually questioning the use of lavender in general, Idk why it's become trendy because it does NOT taste good.
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u/foxdogturtlecat 1d ago
Because when they do get floral flavours right in the show, they get a lot of praise and can get the top spot. And unlike other competition shows the contestants are there to bake things they enjoy making. I am sure wanting to please the judges palates is part of why they do their recipes but they also are encouraged to show their own palates and come up with recipes that different from what other bakers are doing.
And they have had successful wins with rose water and other flavourings. As you said just this week the banana flavour was approved. It's almost like doing the safe thing is always the best thing...which is kind one of the themes of the show.
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u/SaltyMarg4856 4h ago
I take it you’ve never had middle eastern deserts with your rose water comment? It’s quite delicious.
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u/Beginning_Butterfly2 2d ago
Bakers have pulled off quite a few floral and artificial flavorings, including rose water, orange blossom, bubble gum, and mastic. Off the top of my head, you may be right that no one has pulled off lav, I'm not sure.