Wild One Cyprus

foraging food

Lemon Balm

Μέλισσα

Melisa

Scientific Name: Melissa officinalis

other names: lemon mint, μελισσοβότανο, κιτροβάλσαμο, kovanotu, oğulotu, melisotu, acem otu, limonotu, limon otu, oğul otu

AVAILABLE: MAR-OCT

EDIBLE PARTS:

Description

a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family
ovateegg-shaped, narrow at base hairy textured leaves with a crenatewith rounded teeth/serrateteeth forward-pointing margin
square stem
the leaves have a mild lemon scent
small white flowers full of nectar in the summer

preparation

pick leaves and tender stems for salad
steep the leaves and stems in hot water to make tea

extra info

The plant is used to attract bees for honey production

Greek polymath Theophrastus in his book ‘Περὶ φυτῶν ἱστορία’ Historia Plantarum, written in c.300 BC, referred to the plant as “bee-leaf” (μελισσόφυλλον)