Lemon mint

Lemon mint is a herb with a refreshing smell and taste. Combine peppermint with lemon flavors to make it helpful for cooking, medicine, and perfumes. It is most famous in the culinary world.

Lemon Mint is also known as lemon balm or bergamot mint. It belongs to the Metha genus, which has many types of mint. They release a refreshing lemon scent when you break its leaves into pieces. They are used in gardens and kitchens and are also used to make medicine.

Culinary Charms of Lemon Mint

In culinary exploration, it stands as a versatile herb that are used in many dishes with its refreshing flavor and aroma. Its vibrant aroma provides a twist to various culinary dishes, differing from spicy to sweet. Let’s talk about the culinary charms of lemon mint:

• Fresh Salads: Its leaves are a good choice for fresh salads with citrusy mint flavor. When mixed large or broken into small pieces, they add an extra dose of freshness to greens, fruits, and other salad items. Try tossing its leaves with arugula, strawberries, and feta cheese for summer salad to enjoy flavor.
• Herbal Infusions: Its aromatic leaves are perfect for enriching drinks with their citrus-mint solid flavor. To prepare a cup of lemon mint tea, boil fresh leaves in boiling water for a few minutes. Add a small lemon piece or a small amount of honey for extra flavor. It also helpful to homemade lemonades, iced teas, or cocktails.
• Culinary Pairings: It helps to make culinary pairing because it works well with different ingredients to enhance sweet and spicy recipes. For better freshness, combine it with zucchini or bell peppers. Put chopped leaves over the fish or seafood to add a citrusy mint touch. Add lemon mint to fruit salads, sorbets, or syrups for flavor contrast for desserts.
• Preserving the Flavor: Consider drying or storing the its leaves to preserve their flavor for future use. The first step is to separate the fresh leaves onto a baking sheet. The second stage is to dry them in cool air, and the final step is to store them in a well-ventilated area until crisp.
• For all-year recipes, freeze fresh leaves in ice cube trays filled with either water or olive oil to preserve their nutrients and texture. Discovering the Health

Benefits of Lemon Mint

Lemon mint is not only good for your health but also quite yummy. Here’s how it can benefit you:

1. Digestive Support: It is helpful with digestion issues like bloating and gas. Its leaves are also helps to make digestion easier and reduce stress.
2. Nausea Relief: Lemon mints are used for the treatment of nausea and motion sickness. Breathing in its scent or drinking tea made with its leaves may help treat the stomach and relieve itself.
3. Improves respiratory health: The lemon mint contains anti-oxidants which help ease respiratory problems like congestion. Using steam bath and inhaling its incense can help relieve cold or allergies as well as clear the nose.
4. Reduces stress: The aroma of lemon mint helps releasing the stress and anxiety and eases the mental fatigue. Lemon mint essential oil or aromatherapy blends help to make a treating environment.

How to Plant Lemon Mint from seeds:

Seeding:

Plant Lemon Mint seeds no deeper than 1/16 inch. For indoor planting, cold stratify its seeds for 6-8 weeks before planting in peat pots. Germination usually takes 10-30 days at temperatures of 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plant seeds outdoors in Fall or early Spring for better germination. Transplant seedlings when temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Protect plants from late frosts and keep the soil moist.

Growth of Lemon Mint:

For young plants, keep the soil damp but don’t overwater. Although mature plants can withstand dry circumstances, it is advisable to water them during hot weather. It is a favorite treat for bees and hummingbirds.

When and How to Harvest Lemon Mint:

Cut leaves as needed or trim tall stalks for decorations. Hang stalks upside down in a warm, dry place for storage. Freeze leaves and flowers in ice cube trays for later use.

Fresh lemon mint is best. Dry leaves on a cookie sheet in a warm oven. Store in an airtight container in the freezer, fridge, or with other herbs.

Lemon Mint Seed Preservation:

Watch the stem. If it dries and turns brown overnight, cut it off and let it dry. Collect the seeds in a container and separate them. Do this every day until all the seeds are ripe. Store the seeds in a dry, cool place.

Practical Tips

Mint spreads quickly with its roots, so plant it in containers instead of directly in the ground.

Trim the stems in the fall, and new growth will come in the spring.

Every three years, divide the mint plants and plant them in new soil and compost for better growth.

Serving Suggestion

You can use it to make mint sauce, which is very popular. It is also a great herbal tea.