How to make lemon balm tea (3 recipes)

Learn three ways to brew a perfect cup of lemon balm tea using fresh or dried leaves. This relaxing and calming herbal tea recipe is caffeine free and helps you to sleep.

What is lemon balm?

Known as Melissa officinalis, the lemon balm is easy to grow perennial herb. It was planted in ancient times around beehives to encourage bees to be happy and stay together.

Its Latin name Melissa means “honey bee.”

Called by Paracelsus the “elixir of life”, the lemon balm plant has been used to enhance mood and alleviate anxiety and insomnia for thousands of years. 

However, its medicinal benefits don’t stop there; this lemon scented herb also helps with menstrual cramps or eases pain and discomfort from indigestion.

What is lemon balm tea?

Tasty Lemon balm tisane is a potent herbal infusion from brewing dried or fresh lemon balm leaves or stems. Homemade lemon balm tea has been used for centuries to soothe, calm, and encourage relaxation and better sleep. Adding banana peel to the tea can further enhance its sleep-promoting properties.

How does lemon balm tea taste?

Lemon balm belongs to the mint family and thus carries a refreshing lemony flavor with hints of mint. Its citrusy flavor can be enhanced with raw honey or other sweeteners like maple syrup.

It is also beneficial to combine it with other  “sleeping herbs” such as lemon balm and chamomile or lavender, oatstraw, valerian, and catnip. Experiment with different herbs to find your favorite. Aromatic lavender lemon balm tea stimulates bile production and reduces indigestion. The combination of lavender and lemon balm makes calming and soothing tea that eases digestion. Typical lavender tastes nice and complements citrusy flavor of lemon balm. 

The taste of lemon balm tea made from fresh leaves is more intense and lemony than that of dried leaves, but both are delicious.

When I planted a tiny lemon balm, it quickly took over a large portion of my garden. No wonder I made this calming lemon balm tincture and mosquito repellent I always carry with me for any holiday trip. Lemon balm lip balm is a go-to solution in the prevention or against the first signs of cold sores.

While I love to make fresh lemon balm tea , I also enjoy lemon balm in salads, pesto or to flavor ice pops or lemonades.  Here are more than 20 ways to use lemon balm in the kitchen or apothecary.

Foraging or growing lemon balm?

As much as I enjoy foraging wild herbs such as yarrow or elderberries to brew wild teas, I had no luck finding lemon balm in nature. However, lemon balm grows worldwide, sometimes even two feet high if not maintained. So I encourage you to search in your location.  The best time to forage is from May to September. One can find in hedgerows, wood edges, or waste grounds.

How to Harvest Lemon Balm Leaves For Tea

Lemon balm is easy to recognize. When you crush the leaves between your fingers, lemon balm has an unmistakably lovely lemon flavor. 

Stems are squared like all herbs from the mint family. When you twirl them around in your fingers, you will feel it.

Leaves are oppositely paired, deeply wrinkled, and range from dark green to yellowish green. 

Like all members of the mint family, lemon balm is not toxic and thus safe to forage. Visually you may mistake it for other members of the mint family. However, its wonderful lemony aroma, when you crush and smell the leaves, should confirm it as lemon balm.

Growing your lemon balm plant is easy and once established it comes every year as a bushy with a pleasant lemon smell that attracts bees. 

You can enjoy delicious lemon balm tea from fresh or dried leaves, stems, and flowers.

Once you gather fresh leaves, you can make tea directly from fresh ones or dry them and use them all year long.

Alternatively, order dried lemon balm online.

how to dry lemon balm

Spread lemon balm leaves on a baking sheet or drying rag and place them in a dry place out of direct sunlight. It takes up to 3 days to dry them completely. 

To speed up the drying process, you can use a dehydrator. Place the dehydrator at 95°F to 115°F before using it. Check on the herbs every 1-2 hours. They are dry when they crumble easily. If you have a different dehydrator, follow its directions for drying herbs.

In the oven – Place clean, dry leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet and put into an 80 C (180F) oven for 2 hours or until crisp and crumbly.

Lemon Balm Tea Recipes

from fresh or dried lemon balm

Whether you make tea using dried or fresh lemon balm leaves, you will enjoy the lovely flavor of this drink. 

First step

Use one teaspoon of dried leaves and stems for one cup of tea

Second step

Gather lemon balm, whether foraging or harvesting your lemon balm. 

Third step

Wash the herb thoroughly and place it in a large teapot or mason jar.

Fourth step

Add 1 teaspoon of dried or two tablespoons of fresh lemon balm leaves for 1 cup of tea. 

Fifth step

Bring the water to a boil and pour boiling water over the herbs. Cover with a lid and let it steep for 15 minutes. The longer you leave it, the stronger tea you will get. 

Sixth step

Strain the herbal material and drink it or refrigerate it.

Seventh step

Sweeten with honey, and squeeze a splash of fresh lemon juice.

From lemon balm tincture

Another way to brew up a cup of delicious tea is to use lemon balm tincture. The tincture is fully soluble in water and adds additional properties to lemon balm, extracted in ethanol only. 

First step

To prepare a cup of tea, steep 1 teaspoon of lemon balm tincture in 1 teapot of boiling water until infused, about 5 minutes. 

Second step

Stir in lemon balm tincture to your taste and sweeten as desired.

This study investigated the benefits of lemon balm tea made from lemon balm extract. The research revealed that the hot water extract of lemon balm might provide health benefits to glycation-associated tissue damage in the blood vessels and skin. 

Lemon balm iced tea

First step

Making lemon time ice tea requires more time as you need to cool it before drinking it. I always make iced tea in larger batches – 3-4 cups and keep it in the fridge for a few days. I also make the tea stronger as I dilute it with ice cubes when serving.

Second step

Pick a handful of fresh (2 tablespoons of dried) lemon balm leaves and place them in a casserole, kettle, or pot

Third step

Boil water and pour it over the leaves. Close it with the lid and let it steep for at least 20 minutes.

Fourth step

Strain the leaves and let the lemon balm infusion to cool completely.

Fifth step

Once cooled, pour it into a large jar to fill it up to half. Add lemon and sweetener, and ice cubes. Serve it with a long glass straw. I always like to include lemon wedges and a few lemon balm leaves for decoration.

Benefits of lemon balm tea

Although it has a long history of culinary use, the medicinal properties of lemon balm are impressive.

Speed up healing.

Just simple tea or lemon balm promotes the healing of cold sores. Gently place soaked tea bags on cold sores (3-5 times a day) to start the healing process. 

Improve mood and cognitive function.

This study demonstrates that lemon balm, thanks to its calming effect, may help improve memory and concentration tasks. It also helps to lift one’s mood.

May help with sleeping difficulties.

People with insomnia or with difficulties falling asleep may benefit from the relaxing effect of this great nighttime tea.

Ease menopausal syndrome and menstrual pain.

This research suggests that lemon balm tea may improve the quality of life of menopausal people with sleep disturbance.

May decrease depression and reduce anxiety and stress.

Support gastrointestinal health.

Many people say that lemon balm eases their digestive issues.

*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice.

Lemon balm tea pregnancy.

Like most herbs, there’s been little study of their safety for pregnant women. This study mentioned that lemon balm might be a risk factor if:

• a person is pregnant or breastfeeding.
• a child.
• individuals taking sedatives.
• Individuals with thyroid disorders as Lemon balm, may interfere with the action of thyroid hormones. These people should consult their doctor before taking these herbs with thyroid hormones.
• allergic to lemon balm.

There is currently insufficient research on lemon balm’s side effects specifically. Therefore, people with underlying conditions should consult a doctor before using lemon balm or tea therapeutically.