10 Clever Uses for Lemon Balm
If you've ever planted lemon balm, you already know that it doesn't exactly need much encouragement to grow. This fragrant perennial herb can quickly become thick, bushy, and very abundant.
The good news? There are plenty of ways to put all those fresh leaves to use.
Lemon balm has a lovely lemony scent and a mild citrus flavor that works really well in drinks, desserts, fruit, homemade infusions, and even your summer bath. It's also an easy herb to grow, making it a great addition to a backyard herb garden.
If you're wondering what to do with lemon balm, here are 10 simple and clever uses for lemon balm:
1. Add It to Your Outdoor Space
Lemon balm is often grown for its lemony fragrance, and having it near your patio or outdoor seating area can be a lovely way to enjoy the scent while you're outside. It may also be useful for warding off mosquitos!
I like growing lemon balm in a planter near our patio table where I can easily snip a few leaves whenever I want to use them.
Tip: Lemon balm can spread quickly in the garden, so growing it in a container can make it much easier to keep under control.
2. Make Lemon Balm Simple Syrup
One of my favorite summer uses for lemon balm is making a batch of homemade simple syrup.
You'll need:
- 1 cup packed fresh lemon balm leaves
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
How to make it:
- Combine the lemon balm, water, and sugar in a small saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for about 1 minute, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and cover.
- Let it steep for about 30 minutes.
- Strain out the lemon balm leaves.
- Store the syrup in the refrigerator.
Use your lemon balm simple syrup to sweeten lemonade, iced tea, sparkling water, or homemade summer drinks. You could even use it to add a little extra flavor to cocktails or mocktails.
3. Make Lemon Balm Tea
Fresh or dried lemon balm leaves can be used to make a simple herbal tea.
Just add a handful of fresh leaves or a small amount of dried lemon balm to a mug or teapot, cover with hot water, and let it steep for several minutes. Strain and enjoy warm.
Lemon balm has a naturally mild, lemony flavor, so you can enjoy it on its own or combine it with other herbs such as mint.
4. Make Lemon Balm Infused Honey
Lemon balm and honey make a delicious combination.
To make infused honey, loosely fill a clean jar about halfway with fresh lemon balm leaves. Pour honey over the leaves until they're completely covered.
Let the mixture infuse for several weeks, then strain out the leaves.
Use the finished honey to sweeten tea, drizzle over yogurt, or add to desserts.
Important: Never give honey to babies under one year old.
5. Add It to Desserts and Fruit Salads
Lemon balm's subtle citrus flavor makes it a fun addition to summer desserts.
Finely chop a few fresh leaves and add them to:
- Fruit salads
- Yogurt
- Parfaits
- Fruit crisps
- Pies
- Homemade popsicles
You don't need much. A few chopped leaves can add a surprisingly nice lemony flavor.
6. Add It to Iced Tea
Summer and iced tea go together perfectly, and lemon balm is an easy way to switch things up.
Add a handful of fresh lemon balm leaves to your favorite iced tea while it steeps. You can also combine it with fresh mint for an extra refreshing flavor.
It's especially good with homemade sun tea.
7. Make Lemon Balm Infused Water
If plain water gets a little boring, try adding fresh lemon balm.
Add a few washed lemon balm leaves to a pitcher of water along with your favorite fruit. Lemon, lime, strawberries, cucumber, peaches, and berries are all great options.
Let everything chill in the refrigerator for a few hours so the flavors have time to mingle.
It's a simple way to make everyday water feel a little more special.
8. Use It in a Homemade Bath
Want to make your next bath feel a little more relaxing and spa-like?
Add fresh lemon balm leaves to the water for a lovely herbal scent.
You can sprinkle the leaves directly into the tub, or place them in a small cloth bag or reusable tea infuser and hang it near the faucet so the warm water runs through the leaves as the tub fills.
9. Freeze Lemon Balm for Later
If your lemon balm plant is producing more leaves than you can use, don't let them go to waste!
Wash and dry the leaves, then chop them and freeze them in small portions. You can freeze them in ice cube trays with a little water and then transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer bag.
Drop a cube into iced tea, lemonade, sparkling water, or other summer drinks whenever you need a little lemony flavor.
Freezing is a great way to preserve some of that summer herb garden abundance.
10. Make a Lemon Balm Sugar
Here's another easy way to preserve the flavor of fresh lemon balm.
Place fresh lemon balm leaves and granulated sugar in a food processor and pulse until the leaves are finely chopped and incorporated into the sugar.
Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet and allow it to dry completely. Once dry, store it in an airtight container.
Use your lemon balm sugar to sweeten tea, sprinkle over fruit, or add a little citrusy sweetness to baking.
What to Do With All That Lemon Balm
One of the best things about growing your own herbs is that you don't need to use them all at once. When your lemon balm starts taking over the garden, harvest some for tea, freeze some for later, and use the rest to experiment with homemade drinks and desserts.
It's inexpensive, easy to grow, and surprisingly versatile. Which is exactly the kind of plant I love having in my garden!
If you grow lemon balm, what is your favourite way to use it? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments!
I used lemon balm as a herb with dandelion. Valuable against stress and failed memory.
I made a lemon balm tincture, soaking it in vodka for 6+ weeks.
I have a heart flutter, and it helps with that.
I also make tea from the leaves I dried.