Spring has sprung. Everything is in full bloom, including the sips. I visited Shaffer Coffee Co. in Murray, Kentucky to get the lowdown on one of my favorite springtime sips: the Lavender Latte.

I first encountered this mysterious drink last March while visiting a coffee shop in Baltimore. Back then, the concept of flower-infused coffee was relatively new and many critics believed it to be only a fad. But after tasting my first Lavender Latte, I thought otherwise.

Full disclosure: I love lavender. On a typical weekday night you can find me relaxing in my room with my lavender-infused mattress topper and my oil diffuser diffusing a lavender sweet orange aroma on full blast. In the washroom you can find lavender shampoo, conditioner, body wash and sometimes even lavender hand soap. And whenever I’m stressed out you can bet I’ll be reaching for my lavender stress-relief lotion. Then to top it all off, lavender is one of my favorite colors.

I guess you could say I like lavender a-latte. To say I was excited to stumble upon the Lavender Latte last year in a Baltimore coffee shop is a major understatement.

Unfortunately for flower-infused coffee drinks, many of the trends that started last spring never bloomed to their full potential. Flower-infused coffee came and went and was for the most part forgotten. But being the lavender junkie I am, I prayed for the day that the Lavender Latte and I would cross paths again.

This is where the true hero of our story comes in: Shaffer Coffee Co.

Shaffer’s brought back their Lavender Latte on March 1. The seasonal drink is something their barista Lindsey describes as: “Spring in a cup!”

As soon as the first sip hits the inside of your mouth, you feel instantly relaxed. This is because lavender is notorious for its soothing effect. Many traditional and modern medicine professionals have conducted studies on the effects of lavender with a vast majority of these studies concluding lavender to have a beneficial impact on those suffering from anxiety, depression or insomnia.

That’s not to say drinking only Lavender Lattes for the rest of your life will completely cure you of depression. But if you’re looking for the perfect pick-me-up during a stressful day, you should give the Lavender Latte a try.

Creating the perfect Lavender Latte is relatively simple.

Lindsey told me it begins with the easy process of combining sugar and water with lavender in order to create a lavender syrup. After the lavender syrup is created it is then incorporated into the regular latte process. Lindsey was kind enough to show me the lavender Shaffer’s uses in their lattes and unsurprisingly, Shaffer’s uses real lavender petals.

If you want to spice things up, the baristas recommend adding honey or vanilla to your order. If you’re not the biggest fan of coffee, lavender can also be paired with a London Fog Tea Latte.

As far as getting an iced latte versus hot, Lindsey recommends getting it iced. She said an iced Lavender Latte is perfect for an early afternoon refreshment.

I tried both the hot and iced latte and have to agree with Lindsey. The iced Lavender Latte is superior. However, if you’re having an extra stressful and are looking for a little stronger lavender presence, I found the hot latte to be more aromatic.

As for taste, Lindsey described it as something different that is earthy but still in the middle of the road. If you’re hesitant to try flower-infused coffee, I promise this drink won’t push you completely out of your comfort zone. The familiar latte taste we all love isn’t overpowered by the presence of lavender but instead is accentuated by it.

Shaffer Coffee Co. will have their Lavender Latte for the rest of spring. With the stress of tax season, finals and whatever else might be on our plates threatening the spring in our steps, I cannot recommend this spring sip enough.

Happy sipping!