Melissa officinalis, lemon balm: uses.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: Uses for Lemon Balm/Verbena
From: Marylin.Kraker.bbs.c4systm.com
Date: Sun, 04 Dec 94 07:35:19 EST

> I ended up with a beautiful bush of lemon balm this year. I have lots of dried lemon balm and lemon verbena. Any suggestions for uses?

Lemon balm is WONDERFUL in tea, especially for iced tea. I like unsweetened ice tea all year, and try to watch the caffeine -- so

1 qt water, 1 decaf teabag (Lipton's tastes best), and a couple of sprigs of dried or fresh lemon balm. Tastes great. Could also make a lemony herb vinegar for salads and cooking (a dash while cooking vegetables).

Lemon balm airdries very well for winter use, just tie bunches and hang to dry.

Good brewing!
Marylin

From: tdoran.sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Tim Doran)

>I have lots of dried lemon balm and lemon verbena. Any suggestions for uses?

Dry the lemon balm and use it in teas - it is really a wonderful feel happy herb that can be used in times of mild depression and even insomnia. Lemon verbena I am not so familiar with. Try combining the lemon balm with mint, nettles, red clover and red raspberry for a particularly nutritive tea.

Lisa Doran