Refreshing Lemon Balm Lemonade

Almost everything in my garden is edible. Therefore when I have moved to the Southern Highlands two years ago I  had to make sure that  I grow a diversity of organic medicinal and culinary herbs. The fresh aroma of herbs is so uplifting and grounding at the same time.

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis is a must in the herbal garden. It is a medicinal plant and is indicated for insomnia, depression, anxiety, irritability, flatulence, IBS, common cold, and influenza.  You can dry lemon balm and infuse it as a soothing tea or in spring and summer, you can make a soothing lemonade.

This is a version of simple lemonade, but with the extra flavor of lemon balm (Melissa).

Ingredients:

4 unsprayed lemons

Small bunch of lemon balm

125 of sugar

15 ml boiling water

600ml cool boiled water

Lemon balm springs to decorate

1. Scrub the lemons well before peeling off the rind carefully avoiding the pith.
2. Put the lemon rind in a small heatproof jag. Tear off the lemon balm leaves and these with sugar. Pour boiling water over this and stir well, crushing the lemon balm leaves to release flavor. Leave the mixture to infuse.
3. Cut lemons in half and squeeze out the juice. Put fresh springs of lemon balm into a large glass jug, then strain lemon juice into the jug and add the cooled strained syrup. Top up with the rest of the water or half water half ice. Leave to chill until needed.

 

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(02) 4854 0205