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How to Use Lemon Balm. As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.
Can you eat the leaves of lemon balm?
Early fresh leaves can be chopped and added to salads. As cooking destroys the fragrance, Lemon Balm should be added to already cooked recipes. Lemon Balm has several health benefits which make it an ideal plant to bolster you immune system. Second, Lemon Balm also works as a tranquilizer.
What parts of lemon balm are edible?
Edible Parts Leaves are commonly used as a relaxing tea. They can be added into many dishes in which the lemon flavour can be enjoyed. Lemon balm has been added to many desserts including ice cream and custards. It is always to be used fresh when using for food (other than a tea).
Can I drink lemon balm tea everyday?
How to use: Take 1200 mg of lemon balm daily for optimal results. This will allow the herb to get into your system long before it’s time for PMS symptoms to appear. Continued use is thought to reduce your symptoms over time.
How do you preserve lemon balm leaves?
Storing Lemon Balm To store your lemon balm, keep the leaves and stems in big pieces to retain as much flavor as possible. Store your herbs in paper bags or glass jars (avoid plastic bags as they may lead to condensation).
How do you harvest lemon balm tea?
The easiest way to harvest lemon balm is to snap leaves off stems with your fingers as often as needed for cooking or other purposes. The collected leaves can be used fresh or hung upside down to air-dry for later use. The dried herbs lose a lot of flavor, so if you’re using it for food, fresh is usually best.
What is lemon balm tea good for?
Health Benefits of Lemon Balm Tea Reduces Stress and Anxiety. The calming effect of lemon balm tea can help lower stress levels after even the toughest days. Improves Sleep. Supports Brain Health. Alleviates Digestive Problems. Treats Infections. Prevents Heart Disease.
What can I use a lemon balm plant for?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic).
Can I smoke lemon balm?
The other herbs you can smoke are: Lemon Balm, Wormwood Herb, Greater Celandine Herb, Hemp Buds, Stinging Nettle, Marshmallow Leaf, Licorice Root.
Can you cook with lemon balm?
They’re great for cooking. Use lemon balm in place of lemon peel in recipes and to flavor soups, sauces, vinegars and seafood. You can also use the herb to bake a batch of lemon balm cookies or lemon balm bread, whisk up a quick lemon balm vinaigrette, or top your pasta with lemon balm pesto.
What is the best way to take lemon balm?
You can drink it inside a tea, take it as a supplement or extract, or rub it on the skin in the form of balms and lotion. Lemon balm essential oil is also popular in aromatherapy. It can help relieve stress and keep you calm. It is safe for short-term use but shouldn’t be used for longer than six weeks.
Is lemon balm the same as lemongrass?
Lemon balm comes from the melissa officinalis plant, and looks nothing like lemon grass. Lemon balm has a lighter flavor than lemon grass, but it gives off a very zesty scent that makes it perfect for aromatic teas. May 25, 2020.
How do you use lemon balm tea?
Crush lemon balm leaves slightly between the fingers to release natural oil, and add to a tea infuser and place in a mug. Pour the boiling water over the leaves. Wait 5-10 minutes for the herbal tea to infuse then remove the infuser. Optionally add a touch of honey or another natural sweetener before drinking.
How do you harvest lemon balm leaves?
You can harvest small amounts of lemon balm for use throughout its growing season by snapping off a few leaves at a time. For a bigger harvest, use shears to snip leaves from the center stem, in between side shoots, to continue encouraging bushy, full growth.
Does lemon balm spread like mint?
Lemon balm does not spread by underground runners like mint. It will increase in size, though, making a bigger clump in the garden each season and sprouting from seeds that develop from inconspicuous flowers.
Can lemon balm grow indoors?
A hardy perennial shrub that is tolerant to USDA zones 3 through 7, lemon balm can be grown year-round indoors, as well as outdoors in warmer climates.
How do I make lemon balm tea dry?
Rinse the fresh lemon balm leaves using cold water and lay out to dry on a baking sheet. You can also gather the leaves in bundles and hang dry them by tying them from a clothesline. Once completely dry, store the dried leaves in an airtight container or a brown paper bag and leave in a dark place.
Can you harvest lemon balm after its flowered?
You can harvest handfuls of lemon balm leaves for fresh use almost any time during the growing season. For a large harvest of leaves that will be dried for tea or medicinal use, it is preferable to wait until the plant begins to put on flower buds or just as the flowers begin to open.
Is lemon balm good after it flowers?
Cutting back hard after flowering will produce a fresh flush of leaves. Lemon balm can also be propagated by dividing old clumps in spring or early fall, or from cuttings. The leaves may be used fresh or dried, although the dried leaves lose much of their aroma.
