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Rebecca
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I planted this yummy lemon smelling plant in my yard last year per a recommendation from Susan Lovejoy's book. In it she had made a list of some plants that she thought should be in every child's yard.
This summer I have two really big lemon balm plants! My kids occasionally walk by and pick a leaf, rub it between their fingers and smell the lemony scent but I'd like to know what else I can do with it.
Anyone?
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Angel
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The woman who owned this house before we did planted lemon balm in one of the flower beds, and she said you could make tea with it. I think I have also seen some recipes for an herb jelly with lemon balm...
I have a love/hate relationship with mine. It smells really good, but it is taking over!!!! It's been divided once, so now we have 3 or 4 enormous clumps of the stuff. We can't get rid of it. It's like the mint she also planted, which we managed to eradicate from the flower bed... only to have it begin to take over the yard.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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stefoodie
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You can use it for just about anything -- salads, teas, ice cream, grilled chicken.... most any place you'd use a lemon.
Our CSA farm has so much of it growing that they throw in a bunch with your CSA box. I've tried growing it before but it died on me -- isn't that awful? I'm trying again next year, but will use a large pot.
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stef
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JennGM
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I just read yesterday in the current issue of Herb Quarterly "A Fresh Look at Lemon Balm" by Jim Long (Herbalist's Notebook column). It mentions a lemon balm cake, so I was intrigued. How funny that you bring this up now!
His website is Long Creek Herbs -- interesting stuff.
and the Herb of the Year is Lemon Balm. This includes a few recipes.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Dawn
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Wow, Rebecca, I happen to be working on a post about Lemon balm, which as Jenn mentions is Herb of the Year! I don't have it in my garden, but I'm hoping our local farm has a plant for me to buy. 
I have a great book called A Kid's Herb Book that has a whole chapter on lemon balm ~ known as the "happy herb" because it supposedly comforts the nervous system and lifts the spirits.
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JennGM
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The Herb Society of America declares lemon balm to be the Herb of the Year. It is also known as "Sweet Melissa", I believe. I'm sure Dawn's post will have loads of info.
Do a search on "herb of the year 2007" and you can pull up all nice things on lemon balm. Here's another nice write-up with recipes.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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lapazfarm
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We make tea from it and put it in fish and chicken dishes. We also put it in potpourri, and fresh sprigs on the table mixed in with the cut flowers adds wonderful greenery and smells so nice!
It is very easy to grow (sorry, stef!) and we always have good luck with it.
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Mary Chris
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Dawn wrote:
| lemon balm ~ known as the "happy herb" because it supposedly comforts the nervous system and lifts the spirits. |
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Wow! Is that why I am feeling so good these days? Every morning I pick a lemon balm leaf and sniff. Is it legal? 
I have been wondering about its other uses though. I will have to check out some of those links.
I am wondering if I should put it in a pot though. That is how I grow my mint I put the plants in good size pots and then plant them pots and all. They don't come back the next year, but they are cheap enough and they don't overrun the garden.
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Lisbet
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Jenn, Thanks so much for posting those links, I found a great looking Lemon Balm Vinaigrette. I've been searching high and low for a lemon-y homemade dressing for fresh spinach! .....off to clip some lemon balm...
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Rebecca
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I knew you ladies would have some great ideas, links and recipes! Do you know that the Herb Society of America is really close to my house and is this tiny, sweet cottage, (can't be more than 900 square feet), packed full of great herb books, information and help for amateur herb growers like myself. I never thought to ask them! 
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Mary G
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I used to [ut a big stalk (freshly cut from the plant) into the jar of sun tea and it really flavored it nicely! I'd also dry it and sprinkle it on chicken before baking (like you'd use Rosemary)....
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MaryG
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chicken lady
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On a medicinal side......lemon balm tea lowers the blood pressure, excellent tea to have on hand for stressful winter days....No I am not a doctor I just play one on the computer
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momwise
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This is great to know! I have been searching high and low for another Lemon Thyme plant since I moved and haven't found one yet...I'll just plant some lemon balm instead 
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Celeste
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Huh. I think I've been weeding lemon balm out of my garden. It's everywhere, so I assumed it MUST be a weed.
Well, one less thing I have to do!
Celeste
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Cay Gibson
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chicken lady wrote:
| On a medicinal side......lemon balm tea lowers the blood pressure, excellent tea to have on hand for stressful winter days....No I am not a doctor I just play one on the computer |
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Cay Gibson
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Cay Gibson
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Rebecca wrote:
| I knew you ladies would have some great ideas, links and recipes! Do you know that the Herb Society of America is really close to my house and is this tiny, sweet cottage, (can't be more than 900 square feet), packed full of great herb books, information and help for amateur herb growers like myself. I never thought to ask them! |
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Oh, I would think I've died and gone to heaven. How totally lovely, Rebecca. Can we have pictures?
marychris wrote:
Wow! Is that why I am feeling so good these days? Every morning I pick a lemon balm leaf and sniff. Is it legal?
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chicken lady wrote:
| No I am not a doctor I just play one on the computer |
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Celeste wrote:
Huh. I think I've been weeding lemon balm out of my garden. It's everywhere, so I assumed it MUST be a weed.
Well, one less thing I have to do!
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You ladies are too, too funny!
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Cay Gibson
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hylabrook1
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Lemon balm is in the mint family, so that probably explains why it keeps taking over the space where it's planted. I keep finding volunteer plants in my garden, so I guess I must have let mine go to seed after it flowered.
Peace,
Nancy
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Lisbet
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Nancy, I've never had Lemon Balm flower? Maybe I cultivate it too much? I also keep it in containers to prevent it from taking over. (also to take it with me whenever/ifever we move!)
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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hylabrook1
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Lisa -
I don't know why my lemon balm flowers. It is planted in the ground, in a place where it gets full sun from the east, which is very hot for hours and hours each day. We are in Maryland, so maybe it gets hotter than in Ohio? I don't know. It gets fine white flowers at the ends in August or September.
Peace,
Nancy
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Lisbet
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Hmmm, interesting Nancy! Mine is in a pot, gets full on sun, but I've never had flowers. (I've had it in the ground before too!)
I came across this recipe and it looks perfect for kids!
Goodnight Milk
Since lemon balm has soothing and relaxing properties, a tea of it is a good thing before bed. Drinking warm milk before bed is also a recommended practice for a good night's sleep. Here, I've combined the two traditions to make a simply delicious beverage to consume before retiring. You can use honey in place of the maple syrup, but the flavor of maple is "just right" here-it is yummy. Sleep tight!
1 serving
6 to 8 sprigs fresh lemon balm 2 to 3-inches long
1 cup milk
About 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Rinse the balm leaves, shake off the excess water, and scrunch it up to bruise the leaves. Put the balm in a small non-reactive saucepan and pour the milk over it. Place over medium heat, and stir, bruising the balm against the side of the pan with the back of a spoon. Add the maple syrup and stir to dissolve. Bring the milk just barely to a simmer, turn off heat, and cover the pan with a lid or saucer. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Strain the leaves from the milk into a mug and press on them to remove their essence. Inhale. Drink slowly.
Variations:
~ You can make this with dried lemon balm, and receive the same health benefits, though much of the delightful fragrance of the fresh herb is lost when it is dried.
~ Use about 1 teaspoon of lemon balm distillate in place of the lemon balm leaves; stir it in with the maple syrup. Taste, and adjust with a little more if necessary.
~ Use 2 to 3 teaspoons of lemon balm syrup-stir it in when the milk is hot-you will not need the maple syrup.
Sources
Dille, Carolyn, and Belsinger, Susan. Herbs in the Kitchen. Interweave Press: Loveland, CO, 1991.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Topic: Uses for Lemon Balm
