If the lemon balm retreats into the ground over the winter, this does not necessarily mean that you have to forego the aromatic culinary herb. Read here how you can easily preserve freshly harvested lemon balm.
How can you preserve lemon balm?
To preserve lemon balm, you can either freeze the herbs or air dry them. When freezing, spread the lemon balm on a plate and store frozen leaves in freezer bags. When air drying, hang lemon balm bundles in a dark, dry place and store in airtight containers.
Preserving by freezing – this is how it works
Freezing herbs is fraught with the prejudice that the leaves clump together and cannot be removed in portions. This doesn't have to be the case, because this shortcoming can be avoided with lemon balm using the following trick:
- harvest the branches shortly before flowering
- clean under running water and let dry on a kitchen towel
- spread whole shoots or individual leaves on a plate or baking tray
- Put in the freezer compartment of the freezer for 30 minutes
If the lemon balm leaves are frozen hard, put them in freezer bags or a can. This way they are frozen to save space. You can now remove the lemon balm individually for the next 12 months.
Preserving lemon balm with air – this is how it works
Air is the cheapest preservative in the world. To preserve lemon balm and other herbs, people have been using them for generations. In contrast to freezing, there are two disadvantages here: air drying takes a long time and reduces the aroma content. If you still decide to do this, follow these instructions:
- Cut the lemon balm branches a hand's width above the ground shortly before flowering
- Pluck a few leaves from the lower ends of the shoots
- tie 3-5 branches together into a bouquet with raffia or rubber
String the lemon balm bundles on either a thicker cord or a wire to hang them in a dark, dry place. Alternatively, hang the bouquets individually to dry. After a few days, the binding material is tightened a little as the stems shrink due to the loss of water. The lemon balm is dried within 14 days and stored in airtight containers.
Tips & Tricks
Lemon balm harmonizes with peppermint in many ways. As plant neighbors in beds and on tree slices, both herb plants thrive wonderfully and attract hordes of beneficial insects to the garden. Prepared as a tea blend, mint and lemon balm complement each other to create an inimitable enjoyment.