Production: Lemon balm is a perennial, native to the Mediterranean, with heart-shaped leaves that bloom small white flowers in the summer. The leaves are harvested and dried for culinary and herbal use.
Qualities: Lemon balm has been used since ancient times to calm the body and uplift the spirit. It boasts an incredible abundance of culinary uses, as well as cosmetic and herbal applications. Traditionally it has been used as a natural remedy to reduce anxiety, promote calm, improve sleep, and heal wounds.
Common Use: The delicate, citrus-like flavor of lemon balm is used in jams, fruit salads, baking, and many savory dishes such as fish and poultry dishes, soups, sauces, and salads. It can be brewed as a soothing tea, by itself, or blended with other ingredients such as ginger root, orange peel, or rosehips. It is used as a soothing essential oil and in perfumes and cosmetics. It has also been used to polish wooden furniture, make homemade toothpaste, and repel insects!