Posted by Marco Graham on Sep 18th 2026
Lemon Balm Tea: How to Make It, Taste & Easy Blends
✿ From the Herb Shelf
Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm makes one of the gentlest, most fragrant herbal teas there is: soft lemon, a little honeyed, and naturally caffeine-free. Here is how to make it so it actually tastes of lemon, how long to steep it, six easy blends, and the safety notes worth knowing.
The Plant
What Is Lemon Balm?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a soft, bushy herb in the mint family, with crinkled, bright-green leaves that smell of lemon when you brush past them. Its botanical name comes from the Greek word for honeybee, because bees love its small white flowers.
It has been grown in European kitchen gardens, monastery gardens and household stillrooms for centuries, usually planted by the kitchen door for an evening or after-supper cup. It is not related to the tea plant, so lemon balm tea is naturally caffeine-free.
Taste
What Does Lemon Balm Tea Taste Like?
Think lemon rind with the sharpness taken out: sweeter, rounder and a little honeyed, with a soft, minty-green background. It is gentle rather than sour, which makes it an easy first herbal tea for people who do not usually like them.
One thing to know: lemon balm loses its scent faster than almost any other dried herb. A fresh bag smells vividly lemony; an old one tastes of very little. Buy it in small amounts, keep it sealed, and judge it by its smell.
Step by Step
How to Make Lemon Balm Tea
This method uses dried, cut and sifted lemon balm, like our Lemon Balm. The key is water that is hot but not at a rolling boil.
1. Measure
One heaping teaspoon of dried lemon balm per 8 oz of water, or two if the bag has been open a while.
2. Let the kettle settle
Take the water off the boil and let it rest about a minute. A hard boil drives the lemon aroma straight out of the cup.
3. Cover and steep
Cover the cup and steep 4 to 5 minutes, no longer. Covering keeps the aromatic oils in the tea.
4. Strain and sip
Strain and drink it warm, plain or with a little honey.
Iced lemon balm tea: steep it double-strength, cool it quickly, and pour it over ice rather than letting it sit for hours. Add a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.
Using fresh leaves? Use a small handful of leaves per cup, bruise them gently to release the scent, and steep the same way.
Recipes
6 Lemon Balm Tea Blends to Try
Lemon balm is a top note with no edges, which makes it one of the easiest herbs to add to anything. Use it at about a third of the blend. Every herb below is on our dried herbs shelf.
Lemon Balm & Spearmint
Sweet mint under soft lemon, both gentle. The blend to hand someone who says they do not like herbal tea. With spearmint.
Lemon Balm & Passion Flower
Passion flower brews flat and hay-like on its own; lemon balm gives it a face. A classic evening cup.
Lemon Balm & Lemon Verbena
The two lemons stacked: lemon verbena carries the aroma and lemon balm softens it.
Lemon Balm & Catnip
Catnip tastes faintly of mown grass and mint; lemon balm rounds it off. Close cousins in the mint family.
Lemon Balm & California Poppy
California poppy is quiet and a touch bitter; lemon balm covers the bitterness.
Lemon Balm & Lavender
A pinch of lavender only. Steep 3 minutes; both turn bitter and perfumey if forgotten.
Freshness
How to Keep Lemon Balm Tasting Like Lemon
- Buy small. Half an ounce goes further than it looks and is used while it still smells bright.
- Store it airtight, away from light, heat and the stove. Heat and air carry the scent off quickly.
- Trust your nose. If a pinch rubbed between your fingers no longer smells of lemon, use more leaf or restock.
- Never boil it. Water just off the boil keeps the lemon in the cup.
Tradition
Lemon Balm Tea Benefits: What Tradition Says
Lemon balm has a long history as a gentle evening and after-supper tea in European households, which is why it was planted by so many kitchen doors. People kept it for its fragrance, its easy flavor, and as a relaxing way to end the day.
That is tradition rather than a medical claim. Lemon balm tea is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease; if you have a health concern, talk with your healthcare provider.
Safety
Lemon Balm Tea Safety
- Thyroid: lemon balm has a long-reported association with thyroid function and may interact with thyroid medication. If you take levothyroxine or another thyroid drug, or are treated for a thyroid condition, talk with your prescriber first.
- It can be sedating in quantity. Do not drive after a strong pot, and be careful alongside sedatives or sleep aids.
- Pregnancy and nursing: avoid strong daily infusions without your provider’s approval.
- Mint-family allergies: if you react to peppermint or basil, start with a small cup.
- Before surgery: set it aside and mention it to your surgical team.
- Prescription medication: check with your provider before drinking it every day.
FAQ
Lemon Balm Tea FAQ
Is lemon balm tea caffeine-free?
Yes. Lemon balm is an herb in the mint family, not the tea plant, so it contains no caffeine.
How long should I steep lemon balm tea?
4 to 5 minutes, covered, in water just off the boil. Longer steeps can taste flat or slightly bitter.
How much lemon balm do I use per cup?
One heaping teaspoon of dried leaf per 8 oz of water, or two if the leaf has been open for a while.
Why does my lemon balm tea taste like nothing?
Usually the leaf has lost its scent, or the water was boiling hard. Use fresh leaf, let the kettle settle for a minute, and keep the cup covered while it steeps.
Can I drink lemon balm tea every day?
Many people enjoy it regularly. If you take thyroid medication, sedatives or other prescriptions, or are pregnant or nursing, check with your healthcare provider before making it a daily habit.
Can I make iced lemon balm tea?
Yes. Steep it double-strength, cool it quickly and pour it over ice. It is lovely with lemon slices or mint.
What is the difference between lemon balm and lemon verbena?
Both taste of lemon. Lemon balm is softer, rounder and a little honeyed; lemon verbena is sharper and more intensely lemony. They blend beautifully together.
Where can I buy lemon balm?
Our Lemon Balm comes in 0.5 oz and 1 oz bags, cut and sifted and packed to order, so it reaches you while it still smells of lemon.
✿ Ready to Brew
Start With a Bag of Lemon Balm
Cut and sifted, packed to order in 0.5 oz and 1 oz sizes. Pair it with spearmint, passion flower or lemon verbena, browse all of our dried herbs, or read our guide to making mullein tea.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.