Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:11061264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 110 3/7/15 5:11 pm
(Text)HERB & SPICE COMPANION- 110 –
LEMON BALM
Melissa officinalis
Flavors: lemon, mintThe delightfully fragrant lemon balm
is enjoyed for its calming aroma, its
refreshing lemony flavor, and its charms
in the garden, where it attracts butter-
flies, bees, and birds. True to form, the
herb’s botanical name, Melissa, is Greek
for “honeybee.”
Lemon balm has been prized since
ancient times for its mood-lifting abilities,
and merely brushing against the leaves
can offer a fresh, invigorating whiff of
lemon. It’s a popular herb in teas and
summertime beverages like fruit punch
and lemonade; it also flavors the herbal
liqueurs Chartreuse and Bénédictine.
Best used fresh, lemon balm loses flavor
when cooked and should be added after
cooking if possible.In the Garden
Lemon balm, a perennial, can reseed and spread aggressively in warm climates, so
keep it contained in a pot or prune to keep it under control.
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and up to 2 feet wide
Container: At least 8 inches deep
Light: Full sun to partial shade in the afternoon in very hot or dry climatesHEALTH BENEFITS
Lemon balm is a classic feel-good
herb, used for its calming qualities
since antiquity. It’s a popular
sleep aid for people suffering from
insomnia, specifically when prepared
in a tea with other calming herbs
like chamomile and valerian. Lemon
balm tea can also ease symptoms of
anxiety and stress, as well as stomach
upset, gas, and cramps. Applied
topically as an ointment, the herb’s
extract can quicken the healing of
cold sores and help prevent them
from spreading.Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:11061264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 110 3/7/15 5:12 pm