I just typed the title of this article and had flashbacks. When I was in college, a fellow classmate would post a short excerpt every week on his AIM away message (this was pre-facebook posting) entitled "Herb of the Week". This excerpt, seen by the majority of Stonehill College's class of 2005, included several prolific sentences publicly announcing the individual responsible for the most moronic (and usually drunken) behavior of the weekend. In case any of you are confused, I'll now reference the urban dictionary: ( Herb: Insult synonomous with loser but can have multiple negative connotations. Pronounced "HURB" with no silent 'h.) Go college. So classy.
Luckily my college days are behind me and my weekly herb encounters are now solely isolated to plant cultivation. I totally love herbs- growing them, harvesting them, cooking with them, using them medicinally. Herbs are totally badass. Here is one of my most favorite herbs that grows easily and abundant, locally.
Although Native to Southern Europe, Lemon balm is very easy to grow and proliferates easily in our New England climate. Evidence of its medicinal use goes back to ancient Greek where it was used against scorpion bites and insect stings. It was also revered by ancient bee-keepers who would rub crushed lemon balm leaves on their hives to encourage the bees to return back home. In fact, it's name Melissa, comes from the Greek word for honey bee.
I find Melissa to be extremely soothing, cooling and cleansing. When I am feeling nervous or anxious, I will boil water and steep lemon balm leaves to make a calming, hot tea. On a hot summer day, I find iced lemon balm tea totally cooling and refreshing. Seriously, I love this stuff.
The Rodale Herb Book gives a quick and easy recipe for balm-honey tea, which is used for longevity and to cool patients with fevers:
1) Pour one Pint of boiling water over one ounce of lemon balm
2) Let the herb infuse in the hot water for 15 min
3) Strain the infusion to remove the herbs
4) Add honey or lemon peel to taste
5) Drink the tea and live foreverrrrrrr
I would suspect that lemon balm liqueur (!!!!) is even better than lemon balm water, no? And I would also suspect that it's benefits include not only longevitiy, but other super human powers such as the ability to feel zero pain when walking into a glass sliding door or to magically morph the below-average man sitting at the bar into a ten +. I'll have to give it a try and get back to you. But in the meantime, here's that recipe, too.
1) Crush a handful of lemon balm leaves
2) Add one pint of Brandy
3) Let the mixture steep for 24 hours and then strain
4) Add 1/2 cup of honey syrup (see below)
(to make honey syrup- use equal amounts of water and honey. Boil the water for a few minutes, remove from the heat, and then add honey.)
5) Drink and be super merry
Yes, lemon balm is a total keeper- in addition to teas and cocktails, you can also add it to your favorite salad or fruit salad for some subtle, extra flavor. Give it a whirl AND stayed tuned for next week's local herb of the week.
The greenhouses at Vella Gardens will be growing and selling organically cultivated herbs (potted and cut) starting in fall 2011. Please contact me at rvelladesign@gmail.com for more information!!!!
1) Pour one Pint of boiling water over one ounce of lemon balm
2) Let the herb infuse in the hot water for 15 min
3) Strain the infusion to remove the herbs
4) Add honey or lemon peel to taste
5) Drink the tea and live foreverrrrrrr
I would suspect that lemon balm liqueur (!!!!) is even better than lemon balm water, no? And I would also suspect that it's benefits include not only longevitiy, but other super human powers such as the ability to feel zero pain when walking into a glass sliding door or to magically morph the below-average man sitting at the bar into a ten +. I'll have to give it a try and get back to you. But in the meantime, here's that recipe, too.
1) Crush a handful of lemon balm leaves
2) Add one pint of Brandy
3) Let the mixture steep for 24 hours and then strain
4) Add 1/2 cup of honey syrup (see below)
(to make honey syrup- use equal amounts of water and honey. Boil the water for a few minutes, remove from the heat, and then add honey.)
5) Drink and be super merry
Yes, lemon balm is a total keeper- in addition to teas and cocktails, you can also add it to your favorite salad or fruit salad for some subtle, extra flavor. Give it a whirl AND stayed tuned for next week's local herb of the week.
The greenhouses at Vella Gardens will be growing and selling organically cultivated herbs (potted and cut) starting in fall 2011. Please contact me at rvelladesign@gmail.com for more information!!!!
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