What is lemon balm?

The herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds or flowers are used to flavor food or in medicine. Other uses of herbs include cosmetics, dyes and perfumes. The name comes from the Latin word Herba , which means "green crops".

Lemon Ballm - bearing a botanical name Melissa officinalis and commonly known as Balzam , Sweet Balm , Heart's Delight and Melissa - is permanent in the Mile family. It is said that he is originally from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, but cultivated much broadly. Although the lemon balm is sometimes called a "bee balm", it is useful to book the name Balm for Monarda didyma in order to distinguish between the two plants. Confusion may occur because Melissa means "bee" in Greek.

History. The Lemon Balm was the ingredient of the famous "Carmelite inODY ", which was prepared by the Carmelite Order as a restorative beginning in the 12th century. King Charles in France (ruled 1364-1380) reportedly saw the lemon balsam Tisane daily.

Description. Permanent, lemon balm is a bushy plant that grows to a height of about three feet (90 cm) and produces flowers in color from yellow to white from May to August.

horticulture. Lemon balm thrives fertile, damp soil in full sun or partial shadow. Since it exhausts the soil, it must be fertilized every year. It can be grown from seeds or promoted by dividing the root cluster at the beginning or at the end of the growing season. He does not spread himself. Lemon balm can be used fresh or dry air by hanging the stems and then place them in a sealed container to preserve the taste. In both cases, harvest the leaves when they are young.

food and other use. Lemon balm is made in Tisne, replaced by fresh lemon grass and/or lemon peel or lemon tymin. It can be added as an ornament for fish, salads and vegetable dishes or mixed into rice or other grains. In the area of ​​drinks, lemon balm can be made of liqueur or syrup that tastes treated water, is added to fruit drinks and is used to flavor teas.