Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is one of the most versatile herbs that we grow. Its anti-stress properties are apparent, whether it’s used a tea ingredient, a hydrosol, or an essential oil. We harvest lemon balm several times a year, dry a large amount for tea, and distill the rest.
Today was our first lemon balm distillation this year, and it filled the whole house with its uplifting, cheery aroma. Our 5-liter batch yielded about a liter of high-quality hydrosol.