Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm is a perennial herb from the mint family. The leaves have a sweet lemon-mint scent. Lemon Balm is valued as a culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic herb. It is primarily used in herbal teas, however the fresh lemon fragrance and flavor go nicely with both fish and chicken dishes. Lemon Balm is also said to have mild sedative properties so people take it for anxiety or sleep problems. Lemon Balm loses much of its flavor when dried, so it is best enjoyed while the leaves are fresh. However, enough fragrance remains on the dried leaves to where it makes a wonderful addition to potpourri. Lemon Balm can also be used as an insect repellent.