Organic Lemon Balm Loose Leaf Herbal Tea

Dried Melissa officinalis leaf — bright, lemony, and clean, with a faint mint-family coolness underneath. Lemon balm is in the mint family alongside rosemary and lavender, which is why the stems are square and the flavor has that cool edge behind the citrus.

It is lighter-bodied than most herbal teas and reads as refreshing rather than soothing — a good daytime cup even though it is usually marketed for the evening.

Flavor

Bright • Lemon-citrus • Light • Faintly minty • Clean finish

Ingredients

Organic dried lemon balm leaf (Melissa officinalis). Single-ingredient. No additives or fillers. Naturally caffeine-free.

How to Brew

Use 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz cup. Pour water just off the boil over the leaf and steep 5 to 10 minutes, covered.

Covering matters more with lemon balm than with almost any other herb. Its citrus character comes from highly volatile aromatic compounds — the same ones that make it fade faster in storage — and an uncovered cup vents them into the room.

Ways to Use

Lemon balm is excellent iced: brew double-strength, chill, and serve over ice with a slice of lemon. Blends well with chamomile at about two parts chamomile to one — chamomile brings body and sweetness, lemon balm adds the citrus lift chamomile lacks. Also good with mint, lavender, or raw honey.

Product Details

• Loose leaf herbal tea — dried leaf (Melissa officinalis)
• Single-ingredient, caffeine-free
• Available in 4 oz, 8 oz, and 1 lb pouches
• Organic — carefully sourced
• Small-batch packed by Farmer Soul, Las Vegas, Nevada

Storage

Seal tightly and keep in a cool, dark, dry place. Lemon balm loses aroma faster than most dried herbs, so buy a size you will finish within a few months rather than stockpiling it.