[Lesley Silvester]

I have a huge lemon balm plant in my garden.  I have to tie it up everyyear as it is very tall and falls over.  Can anyone tell me what it's good for?  I never see it in recipe books.

[Mammyshaz]

It can be used in any cooking, I often use it in fish dishes, it has a mild taste when cooked. It goes well in stir fries too.

[deepinthewoods]

lemon balm is the absolute king of herbs in my kitchen!!
it adds a distinct lift to most dishes, goes in all my pasta cooking and most of my fish dishes and chicken too.
or make a tea from it, like you would for mint.
you can harvest it at least twice.

[chairmanphil]

i find younger leaves are the best. good in thai food if you have no lemon grass.

[little blue]

don't the goats like it?
mine do... & the porkers!

[Plantoid]

Thanks for starting the thread MGM .

One of the packets of seed we got yesterday for sowing is Lemon Balm  .
We got seeds because the garden centre wanted £4. 35 for a single 4 inch plant pot with one plant in it .
A pack of 250 or so seeds was £1.98,  less members discount coupons .

 Can you use  the balm raw in salads & drinks or does it have to be cooked ?

[Fleecewife]

Remember that it takes over the garden.

[darkbrowneggs]

I'm not into herb teas, but someone once made me Lemon Balm tea and it was delicious.  They just got a lot of the herb, put it in the teapot and poured on boiling water.  Obviously served without milk - it was really lovely.

[tazbabe]

keeps the midges at bay too.

[Mammyshaz]

It can be used fresh, no cooking necessary plantoid

[deepinthewoods]

it can be very  vigorous but if harvested regularly wont be invasive. grow it in poor soil too.

[Dan]

We grow it in pots successfully. I just love picking some and crushing it in my fingers. 

[chairmanphil]

We grow it in pots successfully. I just love picking some and crushing it in my fingers. 

it is most pleasant eh!

[miniaturesabound]

It can be added to home made candles and helps keeps insects at bay. Also refreshing as a salve for headaches on hot summer days.

[in the hills]

My neighbour made me lemon balm and chocolate mint tea last year. It was yummy.

Think I saw a recipee somewhere for Lemon Balm cake. Will try to find it. Could have been in Country Kitchen Mag.