{"product_id":"lemon-balm-leaf","title":"Lemon Balm Leaf (Melissa officinalis) — Bulk Dried Herb","description":"\u003ch2\u003eLemon Balm Leaf \u003cem\u003e(Melissa officinalis)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLemon Balm is one of the most beloved and universally cherished botanicals in the Western herbal tradition — a gentle, lemon-scented perennial of the mint family whose bright, uplifting fragrance and mild, pleasant flavor have made it a staple of cottage gardens, monastery gardens, and kitchen herb gardens across Europe for over two thousand years. Known as the “elixir of life” by the 11th century Arab physician Avicenna, Lemon Balm has been associated with joy, longevity, and the calming of the nervous system since antiquity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur Lemon Balm leaf is certified organic, cut and sifted to preserve its delicate essential oils and aromatic character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBotanical Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Melissa officinalis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lamiaceae (Mint family)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lemon Balm, Balm, Melissa, Sweet Balm, Bee Balm, Heart’s Delight, Honey Plant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Part Used:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePreparation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut \u0026amp; Sifted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCultivation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Certified Organic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mediterranean Europe \/ Western Asia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAppearance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dried green to pale green leaf pieces with a wrinkled texture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright, clean lemon fragrance, slightly floral, mildly minty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor Profile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mild, pleasant lemon flavor, slightly sweet, gently bitter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Plant\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the Mediterranean region and western Asia, Melissa officinalis has been cultivated across Europe for over two thousand years and has naturalized in parts of North America and Australia. It is a perennial herb that grows to about 90 cm in height, producing oval, toothed leaves with a distinctive lemon fragrance and small white to pale yellow flowers that are highly attractive to bees — hence the genus name \u003cem\u003eMelissa\u003c\/em\u003e, from the Greek word for honeybee. The plant spreads readily by seed and rhizome and can become quite vigorous in the garden. Its essential oil is dominated by citral, citronellal, and linalool, which give it its characteristic lemon fragrance. Lemon Balm was cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who planted it near beehives to encourage bees to return, and was one of the most important plants in medieval European monastery gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTraditional Context\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLemon Balm has been documented in Western botanical literature since the time of Dioscorides and Pliny. It appears in the writings of Avicenna, who called it the “elixir of life,” and in virtually every major European herbal from the medieval period onward. It was a primary ingredient in Carmelite Water — a famous 14th century preparation made by Carmelite nuns — and in numerous traditional European cordials and liqueurs. It was used extensively in medieval European monastic medicine and remains one of the most widely used nervine botanicals in contemporary Western herbalism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuggested Preparations\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInfusions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steep 1–2 teaspoons of dried leaf in hot water for 5–10 minutes for a bright, calming tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold Infusions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steep in cold water for a refreshing summer drink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTinctures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-suited for alcohol or glycerin extraction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCulinary:\u003c\/strong\u003e Add to salads, desserts, fish dishes, and fruit preparations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHerbal Blends:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pairs beautifully with Chamomile, Lavender, Passionflower, and Skullcap in nervine formulas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuality \u0026amp; Sourcing\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Certified Organic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Identity Verified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Ethically Sourced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Small Batch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ No Additives or Fillers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStorage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eStore in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place to preserve the volatile essential oils. Properly stored, dried Lemon Balm maintains its quality for 1 year. Fresh is always preferred when available.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eA Note on Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis product is sold as a botanical ingredient for culinary, educational, and traditional use. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Those with thyroid conditions should consult a healthcare practitioner before use, as Lemon Balm may affect thyroid hormone activity. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a health condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEvery purchase supports Twin Dragons Botanical Institute’s mission of botanical conservation, responsible sourcing, and the preservation of plant knowledge for future generations.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Twin Dragons Botanical Institute","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51584054264107,"sku":"SQ8837712","price":5.01,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0971\/3333\/0731\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_a7310b54-28c9-459a-95a1-b3bd79abc210.png?v=1764898148","url":"https:\/\/twin-dragons.com\/products\/lemon-balm-leaf","provider":"Twin Dragons Botanical Institute","version":"1.0","type":"link"}