Lemon Verbena vs Lemon Balm (Herbs)
Lemon Verbena
I bought this lemon verbena this spring.
I did a taste test yesterday comparing lemon verbena and lemon balm.
Lemon verbena has much more flavor!
According to what I read in my herb book and online, that is to be expected.
Lemon Balm
I've had lemon balm growing in my yard for 10 years or more. It freezes back every year and then comes back from the roots because it's a perennial. I have so much I regularly dig it up so it doesn't take over! I'm going to try and cook more with it and use it in my tea this summer. I do love the way it smells when you brush against the leaves.
A book on herbs that was published in 1967,(I found it in my mother-in-laws house), suggests adding the early, fresh leaves to salads or finely chop some leaves and add to root vegetables just before serving.
I'm planning on trying out both of these ideas soon!
Do any of you use lemon balm or lemon verbena in your cooking or tea or any other beverage?
Have a Blessed Day!
June 2, 2018
All original photos taken on my Canon PowerShot
Hello @violetmed. I'm not acquainted with lemon verbena so I will look out for it... I do however have lots of lemon balm and we like it as a herb tea with nettle 🌺
We have had nettle and potato soup as well, but haven't got recipes that use lemon balm so please post any recipes you find that use it. Thanks.
They both smell just so wonderful. I loved to learn to make oil from them:)
Very cool! I may try drying some of each of them to have during the winter.
I never had any of them. Or if I did, I didn't know about it :p
You make tea just like a mint tea? Few fresh leaves and hot water? I can imagine it must smell nice....
No, you use the leaves(tear a few up) and add to tea when it's hot. Remove the tea bags and herbs after it steeps. I might try this and then cool it off, add ice and drink it as ice tea for the summertime. I read a long time ago that some people made tea just from the lemon balm leaves to cure some ailments. :)
Aha! So it is just to flavour black tea...
Learning every day :))
These are amazing. I've been wanting to plant something in my balcony, but I don't know which seeds would be suitable for such conditions. Advise if you can.
Anyhow, nice photographs!
I would ask around your local city to see which herbs people have successfully planted. I always start with plants for my herbs because seeds are hard to sprout and then transplant! I'm not patient enough to take the time to start the herbs from seeds!
I haven't tried either one. We had mint growing around our childhood home. I'll try to plant some lemon verbena in the house. Thanks for the post!
Am not into herbs and I don't have idea about it. I wish I have a garden to plant some vegetables and herbs but I don't.
Seems you have been into herbs for long because the number of years you do write in your post do baffle me. 10 years ago I was only a little boy of 16 years
Good one.....are they medicinal??? .
What are they used for? Please educate me more my friend. Thanks.
They are herbs that people use to flavor teas and salads, vegetables and other foods.
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Lemon verbena is one of my favorite leaves to use! I have never used the lemon balm. I wonder how big the difference is?
Well, to me lemon verbena is much stronger in taste!
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