Lemon balm is a perennial herb that grows thick and busy in most home gardens. Thankfully, there is no shortage of ways to use lemon balm at home. It smells great, is super tasty, and has a variety of medicinal benefits.
If you're looking to build a perennial herb bed, lemon balm should be included in the plant list. It can be easy to look at the over-productive plant and wonder what to do with it all, here are my favorite 10 ways to use lemon balm:
1. Smoothies
Lemon balm does indeed have a lemony flavor. It's not intense or tart like lemons but the light flavor is great in a number of different culinary dishes.
Toss a handful of the leaves in with your smoothies to impart that light lemon flavor. Just yesterday I made one with frozen pear chunks, the end of last summer's shredded and frozen zucchini, and a handful of lemon balm – it was delicious and refreshing on a warm July day.
2. Simple Syrup
1 Cup of packed lemon balm leaves – 1 Cup of Water – 1 Cup of Sugar. Bring to a boil, for 1 minute until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand 30 minutes. Strain the leaves from the syrup. Store the syrup in the refrigerator.
Use to sweeten lemonade and iced tea. Pour into club soda for Italian sodas or mix with club soda and vodka or whiskey for a summery cocktail.
3. Roasted Chicken
Mix 2 Tablespoons of chopped lemon balm with 1/4 cup of softened butter. Rub this mixture under and on top of the skin of a whole chicken prior to roasting. Toss a handful of the leaves in the cavity prior to cooking too.
4. Dried For Tea
Rosemary Gladstar refers to lemon balm over and over in her books for a multitude of uses like fighting colds & flus with its antiviral properties and using it for its calming effects on the nerves. She generally recommends drinking it as tea. In the summer, I use fresh leaves but I dry lots of it as well for winter drinking.
5. Infused Honey
Just like making mint infused honey – pack a jar half full of lemon balm leaves, fill it with honey. Let sit for a month before straining and use the honey to flavor tea, desserts, and more.
6. Fruit Salads
Add a few Tablespoons of chopped lemon balm leaves to fruit salads to impart some lemony flavor without making it sour or too tart. Also, try mixing some chopped leaves with yogurt to use as topping for fruit salads.
7. Lip Balm for Cold Sores
Lemon balm has been studied as an effective treatment for cold sores. I infuse the lemon balm in almond oil and add some beeswax to make a lip balm. The minute I feel that little tingle announcing a cold sore is coming, I start applying the balm liberally.
8. Infused Vinegar
Fill a jar half full with fresh leaves, top with white wine vinegar (champagne vinegar is nice too) and seal. Place in a cupboard for 3 to 4 weeks. Strain and bottle the vinegar. Use in salad dressings, chutney, even fresh salsa for a delightful hint of lemon.
9. Cordial
This is not intended to be a medicinal tincture, though I suppose without the sugar it could be, this is simply a pleasantly sweet and lemon flavored adult beverage.
Fill a clean glass jar half full with packed fresh lemon balm leaves. Fill the jar with vodka (use the cheap stuff here). Let sit for one month in a dark cabinet, shaking when you remember. Strain the lemon balm. To the infused vodka add some simple sugar syrup to taste and bottle.
Serve over ice as a pleasant dessert drink. It does turn a lovely light yellow color too, all on its own – no food coloring here.
10. Fresh in Jams and Desserts
When making jams, berry jams especially, I'll toss in a handful of chopped lemon balm leaves just before putting the jam in jars and processing. It helps impart a lovely light herby flavor and often adds a wonderful texture to the final product.
Fruit crisps, pies, and jam bars, all get an occasional handful of chopped lemon balm to the fruit layer for added flavor.
Chris says
July 2, 2014 at 7:03 amDoes anybody know does lemon balm and lemon verbena contain citric acid. I am allergic to citrus fruit which include tomato and pineapple. It would be good if I could try some of these.
Kathie says
July 2, 2014 at 7:19 amI don’t know for sure. I did a quick google search and it doesn’t look like lemon balm contains citric acid but I’ll see if I can find a trusted source for you.
Kat says
April 27, 2017 at 8:26 pmLemon balm is really a mint family plant. Lemon verbena has no citric acid either.
Retha says
January 19, 2018 at 8:09 pmMangos have zero citric acid and is a tastey medicine as well
Dawn says
April 1, 2018 at 2:59 pmIt is from the mint family. It will also take over a garden it needs a contained area to grow. I love it. We use it in homemade salsa a lot.
Lee says
May 11, 2018 at 12:25 pmDo you share your salsa recipe ? I’d love it! Share it here!
MJ Graham says
July 2, 2014 at 9:05 amHere is the chemical breakdown of Lemon Balm: http://www.herballegacy.com/Morrison_Chemical.html
Chris says
July 3, 2014 at 6:52 amThanks a lot for that I will try a small amount andsee how I get on. Thanks again
Tammy says
June 6, 2016 at 7:32 pmThat website is AMAZING. Thank you for sharing!
vonlipi says
July 3, 2014 at 9:34 pmThank you for ll the new unknown to me uses! I would just dry it up for tea….
Lee @ Lady Lee's Home says
August 24, 2014 at 8:11 pmI found this right on time! I have so much lemon balm in my garden. I dried a lot of it but still have so much. I think I will try the syrup next. Thanks.
Deanna I says
August 27, 2014 at 10:37 pmI use it for many of the above listed ways but here is one for you all to try. I put a sprig with dill and garlic butter inside my fresh trout before we grill it (wrap in greased foil pockets) it is wonderful. And can be used in any fish dish to give it that light lemon taste.
Rhonda Burtch says
October 12, 2014 at 8:20 amI use lemon balm to ward of mosquitos. I infuse the plant in olive oil and allow it to set for three to four weeks, turning it end over end a few times each week. Once the plant is infused into the oil, I pour into a spray bottle and spray on open skin (do not get on clothing…it is an oil, so it will stain the clothing). Another way is dab the oil onto your skin with cotton balls, but this takes awhile.
Lisa Frideborg says
January 29, 2015 at 4:49 amThis is wonderful, thank you for sharing! I’m planning a herb garden this year and will be sure to include lemon balm :)
Kathie says
January 29, 2015 at 5:53 amYou’re so welcome! Enjoy that herb garden.
Christina says
April 13, 2015 at 6:09 pmI’ve had lemon balm for years and never knew what to do with it. Thanks so much for these tips!
Kathie says
April 13, 2015 at 9:39 pmI’m so glad the post came in handy for you!
Heather Jackson says
May 6, 2015 at 6:09 amWow! I always grow lemon balm, but I have no clue what to do with it! I have never used it once. Thanks for all the amazing ideas!
Kathie says
May 6, 2015 at 7:11 amI can’t wait to see what tasty recipes you come up with!
Wendy Harder says
May 8, 2015 at 9:50 pmThanks for the ideas. I especially love the use with chicken. The most extraordinary use for lemon balm that I have come up with is to make a simple chiffonade and eat fresh on watermelon. Not that watermelon needs help, but this makes it out of this world. Sometimes I make a dish of watermelon with limoncello and lemon balm which keeps the kids out. They don’t want the “green stuff” on theirs!
Kathie says
May 9, 2015 at 5:43 amThat does sound delish, thanks for sharing the tip!
DCBloom says
May 14, 2015 at 11:49 amThanks! I love the stuff and it grows like a weed, so I always need more ideas.
We have a wood burning stove. In the winter, I keep a large bowl of water on it for a humidifying effect. A big handful of lemon balm in the water adds a nice aroma.
Olwen Hewitt says
July 5, 2015 at 6:34 pmI read somewhere that Lemon Balm is very good in relieving agitation in patients suffering with Alzheimers/dementia.Hope this will help somebody.
Cindy says
June 11, 2017 at 7:43 amYes it is good for anxiety. I drink it as a tea in evening after long day of work
Sandy S. says
August 29, 2015 at 3:36 pmI found a lovely recipe online for jam. Yellow squash, ginger and lemon balm. It was a hit! Making it again this month.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
August 29, 2015 at 3:44 pmThat sounds delish – can you share the link?
tessa says
December 1, 2015 at 10:19 pmYou know my favorite thing about this plant? It grows. I just dug some live root shoots out of what I thought was a completely frozen plant. And, ah, the smell!
Karen says
April 17, 2016 at 3:21 pmhttp://pin.it/9hlVMoi
I thought you’d like this Pin on Pinterest…
Hopefully this is the link to a lemon balm cake recipe I came across on Pinterest and tried recently with good results.
Peggy says
April 17, 2016 at 6:41 pmI use it in lemon cake! The green flakes is so pretty in the cake and tastes so good!
Corrine says
May 31, 2016 at 7:43 pmI have allot in my garden. I cut bunches and put them in my chicken coop nesting boxes. The ladies love it.
Teri says
February 13, 2018 at 11:07 amI have some sprouting for my chicks coming in April. I plan on using it in the nesting boxes as well as an antibacterial.
Lenora says
June 1, 2016 at 6:18 pmI love it in iced tea! I pick a handful and put it in pitcher with sugar and pour hot brewed tea over it. Then pour over ice. It’s so refreshing?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
June 2, 2016 at 6:18 amYum, for sure!
Debbie Migues says
June 4, 2016 at 1:26 pmMake sure you plant lemon balm in a container. It spreads easily if planted in the ground and can take over the garden.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
June 5, 2016 at 5:29 amPlanting in a container is a good idea but with proper pruning and splitting it can be maintained without letting it become invasive. And of course all growing zones will see different spreading voracity.
Debi says
June 6, 2016 at 4:11 pmLemon Balm is in the mint family, so yes, it will take over your garden. It will also come up the following year.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
June 6, 2016 at 4:15 pmAs with any garden perennial (especially in the mint family) proper maintenance can prevent it from taking over. One should exercise care, of course, but there’s nothing to fear in planting it.
Lon says
June 7, 2016 at 10:58 amLong story (long) short; I had the opportunity to grill chicken, so I decided to use what had already popped up in my garden. radish leaves for one ‘pack’ with lemon balm, just a bunch of lemon balm, and kale for one, and you guessed it just lemon balm.
Layers and layers of flavor for any of the chicken breasts.
tl;dr use lemon balm in anything you’re cooking. just the right amount of ‘wow, what did you use’
Sue Haehn says
September 22, 2016 at 7:10 pmI have never used any of my lemon balm, have lots. Would like to know how to dry for tea and can you use the dry lemon balm to cook with?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
September 23, 2016 at 6:19 amYou can use the dried herbs in cooking. Here’s how I dry herbs: http://homespunseasonalliving.com/drying-homegrown-herbs/
Shelley H says
April 9, 2017 at 5:59 pmHas anyone tried it on salmon?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
April 10, 2017 at 9:19 amI haven’t but I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be incredible.
Sharine Borslien says
April 16, 2017 at 11:12 amThanks for the tips, Kathie! A friend gave me a lemon balm plant three years ago. It finally bushed out this spring, and my husband and I are eager to make culinary use of the lovely lemony leaves. I really like your vinegar idea — will try that one for sure. Just reading through your examples put my foodie brain in creative mode! Lemon balm would probably be a tasty addition to a cold shrimp pasta dish. Also, I want to try chopping it up along with basil, thyme, and ground fennel, mix with mustard, apple cider vinegar, and honey, and use as a marinade for grilled salmon or swordfish. Come to think of it, we are grilling stuffed lamb burgers tonight, and I will add some lemon balm to the herbed stuffing!
Homespun Seasonal Living says
April 17, 2017 at 6:33 amSuch great and creative ideas! Yum.
candi says
April 27, 2017 at 12:00 pmCan I put it in water like lemon slices?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
April 27, 2017 at 12:45 pmYou can for sure – it will not have the same ‘punch’ as lemon slices (it’s not as acidic) but it will be tasty.
Lemon Posset says
May 3, 2017 at 2:02 pmThis is very interesting for me, because I just found out about lemon balm .. !!!
Gabi says
May 10, 2017 at 3:55 pmI use lemon balm leaves, only the small ones in salad dressing. This dressing is wonderful for all leafy greens or cucumber salads as well as over boiled eggs and as a topping for fish. I use 1 pint sour cream, about 1/2 cup buttermilk, or yogurt, lemon juice to taste, a pinch of sugar and salt, freshly ground pepper, stir together to make a creamy dressing. Adjust to your taste. Then add lots of chopped fresh herbs: lemon balm, parsley, chives, dill, young leaves of sorrel and borage and any other spring herb you can find.
Cathy says
May 17, 2017 at 8:48 pmWould like to add I put a handful of Lemon Balm in my brine for chicken. The flavor is amazing – I also add it in my chicken soup!
Homespun Seasonal Living says
May 18, 2017 at 10:35 amYum – what great ideas!
Alexandra says
June 12, 2017 at 9:06 pmThank you Kathie for all the useful information you have shared about lemon balm.
I have found that one of my cats really likes it and the ASPCA lists the plant as non-toxic for cats. There are so many plants that are non-toxic for those of us with pets.
Roxanne says
July 16, 2017 at 10:40 amThank you for your ideas on lemon balm usage I will definitely try some of them you’ve been very helpful .
Morgan says
July 29, 2017 at 12:24 pmThanks for all of these new ideas! One of the main things I use my lemon balm for is for my bees. I’ll pick a bunch and dry it every few weeks and once dried, add the stems and leaves to my smoker for calming whenever I open the hives. The bees LOVE lemon balm, and why not calm them with some of their favorite plants?! I also throw in dried lavender and holy basil :) Smells amazing!
Homespun Seasonal Living says
July 29, 2017 at 2:39 pmWhat great ideas!
Y.kabaz says
August 12, 2017 at 2:52 amCan we make paste or cream from lemon balm
Homespun Seasonal Living says
August 12, 2017 at 6:04 amI’m not sure exactly what you mean here? A body cream can be made from the infused oil. Paste – like a pesto? For sure that could be done.
Donal O’Lochlainn says
April 13, 2018 at 9:16 amI use it as a garnish in a Gin n Tonic. Looks great and gives that slice of lemon taste.
Reda says
May 24, 2018 at 11:24 amWhat is the signtefic name for lemon balm
Kathie Lapcevic says
May 24, 2018 at 2:15 pmMelissa officinalis
Tracy says
June 6, 2018 at 5:55 pmI make a lemonbalm soup. No recipe. Just made it up myself. I use fresh basil,garlic and parsley in it.
Pussywillow says
June 9, 2018 at 10:45 amI love this on kale frittata for breakfast or over lentils for supper–it would make a delicious pasta sauce too.
Lemon Balm Sauce
Cook together:
1 large can of tomatoes (~4 cups)
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
When the onion is translucent, add:
2 cups lemon balm leaves
Cook 5 minutes more. Puree in blender or food processor.
Kathie Lapcevic says
June 10, 2018 at 6:06 amThanks so much for sharing this!
Muna says
July 5, 2018 at 7:12 amAdd a twig of lemonbalm in the pot of boiling potatoes. It gives a better taste to tasteless potatoes.
Eliesa @ Real Life and DIY says
August 10, 2018 at 7:12 amWhen you talk about using it on chicken and fish – is that dried or fresh? I can’t wait to try some of these, so thank you for the ideas!
Kathie Lapcevic says
August 13, 2018 at 12:36 pmYou could use it either way. I definitely go for fresh in the summer and dried in the winter.
LD says
September 13, 2018 at 8:49 pmDoes anyone know whether it’s ok to chop leaves, stems, flowers to put into olive oil for extracting? I’ve been using just the leaves, but that’s very tedious. I use the oil to make lip balm.
Kathie Lapcevic says
September 15, 2018 at 4:08 pmI think you’d be fine to just use it all. Generally, I harvest before it flowers but I don’t think it’ll cause any problem. The stems can sometimes leave a bitter taste but it’s unlikely to be bothersome in an infused oil, unlike tea.