Lemon balm is a sweet, lemony scented herb in the mint family. The bushy plant can reach three feet in height and has tiny, indistinct ivory flowers. It's native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, and has been cultivated for over 2,000 years. Its subtle lemon flavor with mint and herb undertones makes it a popular relaxing tea. The botanical name, Melissa officinalis L., is derived from a Greek word for bees. This plant is great for attracting bees; at one time, beekeepers commonly rubbed fresh lemon balm leaves on the inside of new hives to encourage bees to stay. Our premium quality lemon balm leaf is dried quickly and at low light and temperature to preserve color and maintain the characteristic aroma and flavor.

• Product Features

  • A lovely herb that's perennial, easy to grow, attracts bees and is sweet smelling.
  • All above-ground parts of this plant are fragrant, but the leaves have the highest amount of essential oil.
  • Look for a nice medium green coloration to indicate good quality; very dark or black leaves have been poorly dried.
  • Lemon balm leaf is more expensive than lemon balm "herb", as product labeled herb may contain up to 60% stem, but the woody stems have little value.

• Origin

  Bulgaria

• Directions

  To prepare as a tea, pour 8 oz. boiling water over 1 Tbsp. of herb. Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes, strain and serve immediately.

• Flavor Profile

  Slightly lemony and herbaceous

• Botanical name

  Melissa officinalis L.