Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis — Lamiaceae

Italiano: Melissa — Melissa/Erba limona

Description

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is native to Europe. It thrives in Garden escapes, Hedgerows, Shady walls, Village edges environments across regions including Italy, France, Greece, Balkans. Botanically, Lemon Balm is lemon-scented calming herb. Tea anxiety. Flowers edible. Leaves in salad. Historic bee plant.. It is also known locally as Melissa/Erba limona. The edible parts include Leaves, Flowers. With an edibility rating of 8/10, it ranks as an excellent wild food source. Harvesting is best done during April, August, July, June, May and September. Nutritionally, Lemon Balm stands out for its Vitamin K (25.0mg, 21% DV), Vitamin C (10.0mg, 11% DV) and Vitamin A (40.0mg, 4% DV). It also provides 1.0g protein and 1.5g dietary fiber per 100g serving. In the kitchen, Lemon Balm offers a Fresh lemon flavor profile. Tea raw leaves flower salad. Common culinary applications include tea, salad, bee plant, syrup. Popular preparations include Lemon balm tea, Lemon balm syrup, Lemon balm salad, Sauteed greens with garlic. For storage, dried 12mo Fresh 3d. Safety note: No toxicity. Antinutrient content is essential oils citral. Safe lookalike species include Lemon verbena cultivated. Always verify identification with at least three independent botanical sources before consumption.

🌿 Foraging Tips

Where to find: Grows in Garden escapes, Hedgerows, Shady walls, Village edges across Italy, France, Greece, Balkans.

🍳 Recipe: Lemon balm tea

Preparation method: Tea raw leaves flower salad
Flavor profile: Fresh lemon
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers

This is one of the traditional ways to prepare this wild edible plant. Always ensure proper plant identification before cooking.

When to harvest: Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Lookalike (safe): Lemon verbena cultivated
⚠️ Lookalike (toxic): No poisonous lemon-scented
Tip: Always verify identification with multiple sources before consuming any wild plant. When in doubt, do not eat it.

Edibility

8/10
Toxicity: No toxicity
Antinutrients: Essential oils citral
Safe lookalikes: Lemon verbena cultivated
Dangerous: No poisonous lemon-scented

Harvest Calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers
Preparation: Tea raw leaves flower salad
Flavor: Fresh lemon

Nutrition (per 100g)

Protein: 1.0g
Fat: 0.2g
Fiber: 1.5g
Vitamin C: 10.0mg (11%DV)
Vitamin A: 40mcg (4%DV)
Vitamin E: 0.3mg (2%DV)
Vitamin K: 25mcg (20%DV)
Folate (B9): 5mcg (1%DV)
Calcium: 40.0mg (3%DV)
Iron: 0.5mg (2%DV)
Magnesium: 12mg (2%DV)
Potassium: 100mg (2%DV)
Zinc: 0.2mg (1%DV)

Culinary Uses: tea, salad, bee plant, syrup Storage: Dried 12mo Fresh 3d

Recipes

  • Lemon balm tea
  • Lemon balm syrup
  • Lemon balm salad
  • Sauteed greens with garlic
  • Wild green pesto
  • Leafy green soup
  • Wild winter pesto made from Lemon Balm
  • Traditional Lemon Balm soup

Where It Grows

Continent: Europe
Regions: Italy, France, Greece, Balkans
Habitat: Garden escapes, Hedgerows, Shady walls, Village edges
⚠️
Important: Always verify plant identification before consumption. This content is for informational purposes only. Consult reliable sources and experts before eating any wild plant. Improper identification can be dangerous.

Related Plants

🌿 Black Locust🌿 Blackberry🌿 Blackthorn

Sources & References

Kew Plants of the World USDA PLANTS Wikipedia (EN)