Refreshing Lemon Balm Tea
Make refreshing lemon balm tea with honey and lemon. This calming herbal drink uses fresh lemon balm leaves for a soothing beverage in just 20 minutes.
Equipment
- small saucepan
- fine-mesh sieve
- heatproof pitcher or jar
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves loosely packed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Rinse the lemon balm leaves thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Gently pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- In a small saucepan, combine the water and honey. Heat over medium heat until the honey is fully dissolved, stirring occasionally.
- Add the lemon balm leaves to the saucepan and reduce the heat to low. Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t come to a boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Let the mixture steep for an additional 5 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof pitcher or jar, pressing gently on the leaves to extract all the liquid. Discard the used lemon balm leaves.
- Allow the infused liquid to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled or serve immediately over ice.
Notes
Serve immediately over ice or chill for a colder drink.