While lemon verbena is often used as a seasoning for fruits and desserts, lemon balm is more often used for flavoring meats, fish and poultry or added to vegetable dishes. Both are used as garnishes for cold drinks and can be used interchangeably in recipes.
What can be substituted for lemon verbena?
Lemon Verbena Substitute
- Mint Family. Two plants that have lemon-flavored leaves are in the mint family.
- Lemongrass. Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a tropical perennial grass, and it’s often treated as an annual in Northern gardens.
- Lemon Basil.
- Other Lemony Herbs.
What is lemon balm substitute?
Lemongrass essential oil is another close substitute for lemon balm and has a similar calming effect.
Can I substitute lemon thyme for lemon verbena?
What can I use to replace lemon thyme? If you need a substitute for lemon thyme, then your best options are regular thyme combined with lemon zest, dried lemon thyme, lemon verbena, or lemon balm. If you’re in a pinch, you could also consider using lemongrass or sage.
What is the difference between verbena and lemon verbena?
Are Verbena and Lemon Verbena Different? In short, lemon verbena is one of many plants that could be called a verbena. Around 1,200 species are in the Verbenaceae, or verbena plant family. The ones most commonly called verbenas are the roughly 250 species in the genus Verbena.
Can I substitute lemon balm for lemongrass?
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm belongs to the mint family and has a mild, sweet flavor as well as a pleasant citrusy aroma. It’s a great substitute for both fresh and dried lemongrass in any recipe, but it’s especially good in tea and desserts.
What is lemon verbena essential oil?
Lemon Verbena Essential Oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the plant species Aloysia citriodora (synonym: Lippia citriodora). Lemon Verbena Essential Oil features a delightfully fragrant, lemony, herbaceous aroma that many consider pleasant and uplifting.
Is lemon balm the same as lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena is from the Verbenaceae family and is a South American herb, while lemon balm is a European herb in the mint family.
Does lemon balm taste like lemon?
What Does Lemon Balm Taste Like? This aromatic member of the mint family has a bright, citrusy taste that brings together the acidity of lemon with subtle hints of mint. Both the stems and fresh leaves of lemon balm have a subtly sweet flavor and can be used in food preparation and medicine.
What is lemon balm extract used for?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic).
What are lemon verbena leaves?
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a perennial shrub in the Verbenaceae family of plants, used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Also known as lemon beebrush and lippia citriodora, lemon verbena is recognizable by its long, pointed leaves and rough texture.
What is lemon verbena tea?
Lemon verbena tea has a citrusy aroma and is refreshingly lemony with a smooth creamy mouth-feel. It is a caffeine-free natural tea. Aloysia citrodor is commonly known as lemon verbena. It is a flowering plant that belongs to the verbena family. This plant is native to South Africa and is also known as lemon bee-brush.
What is difference between thyme and lemon thyme?
Thyme is a gentle flavored herb that has minty, earthy, and floral flavor notes. Its subtleness is useful in cooking as it doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients in a dish. Lemon thyme has a similar appearance and taste to the regular variety, but it offers a stronger citrus aroma and taste.
Is lemon balm invasive?
Lemon balm is part of the mint family, and spreads just like mint and become very invasive.
Does lemon verbena smell like lemon?
Verbena starts with a refreshing, lemon-like scent that gradually transforms into a sweet, fruit aroma. It also has grassy notes reminiscent of citronella. The fragrance is lighter and cleaner than that of pure lemon, making it ideal for home fragrance products.
Can I eat lemon verbena?
Lemon Verbena is Edible, so its Useful as a lemon flavor or an tasty addition to salads. AND Its Medicinal – You can use the leaves & flowers internally in the form of a herbal tea & externally as a poultice, oil or wash.
Is lemon balm lemongrass?
Lemon balm comes from the melissa officinalis plant, and looks nothing like lemon grass. The light green leaves are rounded, and the scalloped edges tend to be slightly crinkled. There are many more branches from lemon balm trees, and the foliage is very thick.
What is a good replacement for lemongrass?
The Best Lemongrass Substitutes
- Lemon Zest. While the fragrance isn’t as intense and complex, lemon zest is the closest common ingredient to lemongrass.
- Lime Zest.
- Lime Leaves.
- Basil, Mint or Coriander (Cilantro)
- Preserved Lemon.
Does lemon balm attract bees?
Lemon balm is a great plant to use as a border to a garden because not only will it emit its fragrant lemony odor when brushed, but it will attract bees into the garden.
Is lemon verbena toxic to humans?
When taken by mouth: Lemon verbena is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can cause skin irritation (dermatitis) in some people.
Is lemon verbena good for anxiety?
Lemon verbena extract (Lippia citriodora) is clinically proven to reduce anxiety and improve sleep and should be considered an alternative to harsh sedatives, like antidepressants and benzodiazepines, according to the authors of a Spanish study.