How to Make Lemon Balm Tea
Recipe and Uses for a Calming Herbal Infusion
The herb lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis) is part of the mint family. It has a lemon aroma and lemon flavor that is excellent prepared as an herbal tea. It can be used in tea alone or in combination with other, less palatable herbs. You can prepare lemon balm tea with hot or cold herbal infusion. Lemon balm tea is calming and relaxing.
Lemon Balm Tea Hot Herbal Infusion
You can make lemon balm tea from the dried herb by steeping 1 teaspoon of lemon balm per 1 cup of boiling water. Allow the lemon balm tea to steep covered to prevent the medicinal components from being carried away with the steam. After 10 minutes, strain the lemon balm from the herbal tea and enjoy. You can also make lemon balm tea from the fresh herb by steeping 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon balm per 1 cup of boiling water. There is no benefit to using dried herb over fresh herb, but lemon balm is usually stored in the dried form for preservation.
Lemon Balm Tea Cold Herbal Infusion
You can make lemon balm tea from the dried or fresh herb by placing the herb in cold water and allowing the tea to infuse in the refrigerator for 24 hours before drinking. Cold water infusion can be done with the same amounts of fresh and dried herb: 1 teaspoon dried herb per cup of water, or 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh herb per cup of water. You can place the herbs directly in the water and strain them after the tea has infused, or you can tie the herbs in a bag of cheese cloth or a coffee filter as they infuse. This is often the preferred method to make lemon balm herbal tea, as medicinal components of the herb are not destroyed with heat.
Medicinal Uses of Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm is a mild sedative and can help you relax. It can be used alone, or in combination with other less flavorful herbs for inducing sleep such as valerian and chamomile. In addition to promoting sleep, the lemon balm herb has been found to be helpful in treating stress, cramping associated with menstruation, mild depression and nervous headaches. To treat these conditions, drink 2-3 cups of lemon balm tea each day.
Where to Find Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a very easy herb to grow and can be found in herb gardens throughout the world. If you do not have an herb garden, it can also be found at local natural food stores or online in the dried form.
Additional Resources for Lemon Balm:
How to Harvest and Use Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm
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