It's Thursday, June 11th and while I'm waiting for my next client, I'm fixing us a pot of tea.
Lemon balm tea, to be precise. Have you ever tried it? With a spoonful of honey? So delicious!!
This is one of my favorite times of the year, because making this tea is as simple as boiling water, running out to the garden, harvesting a few handfuls of this verdant plant, and then steeping it for about 5 minutes.
Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is the source of Melissa essential oil. With their sweet, lemon-mint scent and flavor, fresh leaves of lemon balm can be used for teas and flavoring seafood and salad dishes.
Medicinally, the aerial parts can be used in infusions for colds, flu, depression, headache, and indigestion, as well as for sedative and antiviral properties.
Looking at the various dried herbs I had harvested a few days ago, I realized I will be harvesting even more of this one!
I have a sense I'll be wanting a lot of lemon balm tea available this winter - for me and any company that needs a sunny pick-me-up.
Do you have any growing in your garden?
If it has space, it will spread happily, as it is related to the mint family.
If you need a clump of it, come see me! I am happy to share.
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