Mom's Best Recipes
Recipe

Lemon Balm Tea

A simple herbal tea that tastes like lemony mint, made with fresh or dried lemon balm and finished however you like.

Author By Matt Campbell
4.8
A warm mug of lemon balm tea on a wooden kitchen table with a few fresh lemon balm sprigs nearby in soft morning light
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Lemon balm tea is one of those low-effort, high-reward kitchen habits. It tastes like mint’s brighter, citrusy cousin, and it makes your whole kitchen smell clean and cozy in about five minutes.

This is not a fussy recipe. If you have lemon balm (fresh from the yard, a friend’s garden, or a little bag of dried leaves), you are basically done. I will show you how to steep it so it stays fresh and lemony instead of drifting into vegetal and flat. Hot, iced, sweetened, or left alone to do its thing, you have options.

Quick note: this recipe is for culinary lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), the classic lemon-scented herb in the mint family.

A small bowl of freshly picked lemon balm leaves on a kitchen counter next to a lemon and a teaspoon

Why It Works

  • Bright flavor without a dull finish: A shorter steep keeps the tea lemony and clean. Going too long can make it taste more vegetal.
  • Works with fresh or dried: Fresh tastes more vibrant, dried is still great and pantry-friendly.
  • Flexible strength: You can go light for an all-day sipper or stronger for an after-dinner mug.
  • Easy upgrades: Honey, lemon peel, ginger, or a pinch of salt can make the flavor pop.

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Storage Tips

Fridge: Cool leftover tea, pour into a covered jar or bottle, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. Chill it promptly and keep it well covered. The flavor is best in the first 24 hours.

Iced tea tip: If you plan to chill it, brew it slightly stronger, then pour over ice so it does not taste watered down.

Freezer: Freeze leftover tea in ice cube trays. Toss cubes into sparkling water or lemonade for a lemony boost.

Common Questions

What does lemon balm tea taste like?

It tastes like a gentle mix of lemon and mint. Think fresh, slightly sweet, and herbal, not sour like lemon juice.

Can I use dried lemon balm instead of fresh?

Absolutely. Dried lemon balm is a little more mellow. Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons dried per cup and adjust from there.

How long should I steep lemon balm?

I like 5 to 7 minutes for a balanced cup. If you steep much longer, it can start tasting more vegetal and a little dull. If you want it stronger, use more leaves instead of stretching the time.

Do I need to boil the lemon balm leaves?

No. Pour hot water over the leaves and steep. The main thing is: do not simmer the leaves on the stove. Prolonged boiling can flatten that bright, lemony aroma.

Can I make lemon balm tea iced?

Yes. Brew it a bit stronger, cool it, then pour over plenty of ice. A lemon slice and a little honey make it feel like a real treat with basically no extra work.

Is lemon balm tea caffeinated?

No, lemon balm is an herb and the tea is naturally caffeine-free.

Any precautions with lemon balm tea?

If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications (especially sedatives or thyroid meds), it is smart to check with a clinician before making it a daily habit.

I got into lemon balm the way most people do: someone handed me a mystery bundle of backyard herbs and said, “Do you want this?” It smelled like lemon candies and mint gum at the same time, which is basically my love language.

Now, whenever my day feels a little loud, I make a mug. Nothing dramatic, no wellness speech, just hot water, a handful of leaves, and a moment where the kitchen smells like a clean reset button. If you oversteep it once and it tastes a little like lawn-adjacent greens, welcome. You are officially part of the club. We adjust and steep again.