Ingredient guide / Culinary herbs
Lemon balm: flavour, uses and substitutes
Gently lemony and green, without much acidity.
Melissa officinalis
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Three identifying features
- Broad slightly heart-shaped leaves
- Wrinkled green blades with scalloped edges
- Lemon scent when crushed
Fresh or dried?
Fresh leaves are the first choice for a clear lemon aroma.
When should it go into the pan?
Add just before serving or infuse in a cooled liquid.
What does it go with?
Fruit salad, soft cheese, peas and cold drinks.
Cuisines & dish ideas
Try summery central European fruit dishes and soft-cheese desserts.
What can replace it?
A little lemon zest, which does not provide the herbal note.
How should it be stored?
Keep refrigerated in a slightly damp cloth and use soon.
Recipes using it
This ingredient has not been found in the existing recipe collection yet.
Sources and notes
Sources
- NC State Extension · Melissa officinalis · Accessed 2026-10-25
- BZfE · How-to Kräuter · Accessed 2026-10-25
Image: AI-generated (OpenAI). Image note: The illustrations were created with AI. They show culinary ingredients and are not a guide to identifying wild plants.