Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

This morning, while out checking the garden, I could see tiny green leaves peeking out of the brown leaf mulch. As I pulled the mulch back, I gently brushed one of the tiny green leaves, and the air was instantly filled with the smell of lemon.

Lemon balm is one of the core herbs that I love to work with. It is a deeply calming herb that is simultaneously uplifting. It is most often used as a nervine tonic (meaning that it helps support and strengthen the nervous system). It can also be used with an upset stomach — especially the kind that comes with nervousness!

During busy and stressful seasons, I keep a steady flow of lemon balm tea in the tea pot.

The flavor is straight-up herby-lemon. While I love the flavor independently, it is also a sturdy base for other flavor combinations. For instance, our Joy Tea blend has lemongrass and lemon verbena as supporting flavors. I also blend it with chamomile for a relaxing bedtime tea.

This herb is notoriously tricky to dry and can easily lose its volatile oils if care is not taken. This is why sourcing your lemon balm from small farms has a distinct advantage. Each batch of tea we dry is custom to the herb and the season. When you get a chance, get to know this fantastic, joyful herb.