Lemon balm recipe

I never thought a handful of leaves from a pot on my windowsill could turn into the most-requested summer drink in our apartment.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Like This Lemon Balm Drink
• What You Need for This Lemon Balm Recipe
• How To Make This Lemon Balm Recipe
• Storage Tips For Your Lemon Balm Drink
• Variations And Tips For The Best Results
• Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon Balm Recipe
• Recipes You May Like
• Let's Make This Lemon Balm Drink Together
• Refreshing Lemon Balm Recipe

That's exactly what happened when I first made this lemon balm recipe last July. I had been growing lemon balm for months, mostly because I liked how it smelled, and one hot afternoon I decided to actually use it. I threw together honey, citrus juice, sparkling water, and a big handful of those fresh leaves, and honestly? I was shocked at how good it turned out.

Alex took one sip and asked if we could have it every day. Sarah called it "fancy lemonade." I called it my new favorite thing.

This is a simple herbal drink that feels special without being complicated. It's bright, lightly sweet, a little minty, and incredibly refreshing. No cooking required, no fancy equipment, and it comes together in about 10 minutes flat.

If you love light, fresh drinks that feel good to sip, you might also enjoy my creamy mango banana smoothie for another no-fuss refreshing option. But today, let's talk about this gorgeous herbal drink that has completely taken over our summers.

Why You Will Like This Lemon Balm Drink

• Only 10 minutes from start to finish, no cooking at all
• Made with real, simple ingredients you can actually pronounce
• That fresh herbal flavor is unlike anything store-bought
• Totally customizable with gin, rum, or St. Germain if you want to make it a cocktail
• Kid-friendly as written, which is a big win in this house
• The base keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, so you can make it ahead

What You Need for This Lemon Balm Recipe

Here's what you'll need to make 4 servings of this herbal drink:

• 1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves, lightly packed (this is the star ingredient, please use fresh)
• ½ cup honey (orange blossom or citrus honey works really well here)
• 2 cups warm water (for dissolving the honey)
• ½ cup lemon or lime juice (freshly squeezed makes a difference)
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 cups sparkling water (add just before serving)
• Lemon or lime slices for garnish

Optional: 1 oz. light liquor per serving if you're making this for adults. Gin is my personal pick. St. Germain is amazing too.

A note on the honey: I've tried this with regular clover honey and it's totally fine, but orange blossom honey gives the drink a floral quality that really plays nicely with the lemon balm. Worth picking up a small jar if you can find it.

No fresh lemon balm? You can use dried, but the flavor is noticeably milder. I'll talk more about that in the FAQ section below.

How To Make This Lemon Balm Recipe

Step 1: Make The Honey Syrup

Pour 2 cups of warm water into a large pitcher.

Add ½ cup honey and stir until it's fully dissolved. Warm water is important here because honey doesn't mix into cold water easily. I usually use water that's hot from the tap, not boiling. About 30 seconds of stirring and it's done.

Step 2: Add The Citrus

Stir in ½ cup of lemon or lime juice and 1 cup of cold water.

At this point the base will taste pretty tart and sweet. That's normal. The lemon balm will round it all out once it infuses.

Step 3: Crush The Lemon Balm Leaves

Add 1 cup of fresh lemon balm leaves to the pitcher.

Now gently crush them with a wooden spoon or just scrunch them in your hand before dropping them in. You're not trying to shred them, just bruise them a little so they release their oils into the liquid.

This step smells absolutely amazing, by the way. Every time I do this, Alex wanders in from the living room to see what I'm making.

Step 4: Refrigerate And Let It Infuse

Cover the pitcher and put it in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

I know, I know. Waiting is hard. But this step is what makes the whole drink. The lemon balm needs time to infuse into the liquid. I've tried rushing it and the flavor just isn't the same.

Honestly, this is the perfect make-ahead drink. I usually prep the base in the morning and it's ready by lunchtime.

Step 5: Add The Sparkling Water

When you're ready to serve, pour in 2 cups of sparkling water and stir gently.

Add it right before you serve, not earlier. If you add it to the pitcher ahead of time, you'll lose all the fizz by the time it hits the glass.

Step 6: Strain And Serve

Strain the drink through a fine mesh strainer into glasses filled with ice.

Garnish with a lemon or lime slice. If you're making this for adults and want to add liquor, pour 1 oz. into each glass before you add the drink. Gin with lemon balm is genuinely one of my favorite summer combinations.

Storage Tips For Your Lemon Balm Drink

The base (everything except the sparkling water) keeps really well in the fridge.

Store it in a sealed pitcher or jar for up to 3 days. The flavor actually gets a little more pronounced after the first day, which I love.

When you're ready to serve: strain out the leaves first if you haven't already, then add fresh sparkling water to each glass as you pour. Don't add the sparkling water to the whole pitcher if you plan to store leftovers.

I would not recommend freezing this. The texture gets a bit off once it thaws and the fresh herbal flavor fades.

Variations And Tips For The Best Results

Here's what I've learned after making this more times than I can count:

• Don't skip the infusing time. One hour is the minimum. Two hours is better. Overnight in the fridge makes an incredibly flavorful base.
• Taste before serving. Sometimes I want it sweeter and add a little more honey. Sometimes I want it more tart and add extra lime juice. Make it yours.
• Try it as a mocktail by adding a few fresh mint leaves and a splash of coconut water alongside the lemon balm. Sarah went through a phase where she asked for this version constantly.
• Want to make it a cocktail? Gin is my top pick. St. Germain elderflower liqueur is stunning. White rum works too. Just 1 oz. per serving is enough.
• Growing your own lemon balm is 100% worth it. It grows like crazy, it smells wonderful, and having it on hand means I can make this any time I want. I keep a pot in a sunny spot on our kitchen windowsill.
• What if the drink tastes too herby? That usually means the leaves were crushed too aggressively or left to infuse too long. Stick to gentle bruising and a 1 to 2 hour infuse time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon Balm Recipe

What does lemon balm taste like in a drink?

Lemon balm has a mild, clean flavor that's somewhere between lemon and mint. It's not as sharp as actual lemon and not as cool and strong as peppermint. It's softer than both of those. In a drink, it adds a light herbal freshness that's really pleasant. When I first described it to Donald, I said it tastes like if lemon and chamomile had a baby. He looked at me like I was making that up, but then he tasted it and nodded. That's the best description I've got.

Can I make this lemon balm recipe ahead of time?

Yes, and I actually recommend it. The base (everything except the sparkling water) can be made up to 3 days in advance and kept in the fridge. The flavor deepens over time, which is a good thing. Just make sure to strain out the leaves before storing, or the drink can get too bitter if the leaves sit in the liquid for more than a few hours. Add the sparkling water right before serving so it stays bubbly.

What are the benefits of drinking lemon balm tea or drinks?

Lemon balm has been used for a long time as a calming herb. A lot of people drink it as a tea to help with stress or to wind down in the evenings. Some research suggests it may help with relaxation and sleep, though I'm not a doctor and I'm not making any health claims here. What I can say is that after a glass of this on a warm afternoon, I do feel pretty relaxed. Whether that's the lemon balm or just the act of sitting down and drinking something cold, I honestly couldn't tell you. Either way, it's a win.

Can I use dried lemon balm instead of fresh lemon balm leaves?

You can, but the flavor will be noticeably milder. Fresh lemon balm leaves have a bright, vibrant quality that dried leaves just don't replicate the same way. If you go the dried route, use about 2 to 3 tablespoons of dried lemon balm in place of the 1 cup of fresh leaves. Let it infuse for a longer period, maybe 2 to 3 hours, to get the most out of it. The drink will still taste good, just a bit more subtle. I always try to have fresh on hand for this reason.

Recipes You May Like

If you loved this lemon balm recipe, here are a few more drinks and refreshing recipes from my kitchen:

• Pineapple Green Smoothie — Another fresh, bright drink that Alex loves on hot mornings. Light, sweet, and comes together in minutes.
• Blueberry Spinach Smoothie — Don't let the spinach scare you. This one is sweet, creamy, and the kids have no idea there's anything healthy in it.
• Creamy Strawberry Banana Smoothie — Pure bliss in 5 minutes. Perfect when you want something cold and satisfying without any fuss.

Let's Make This Lemon Balm Drink Together

This lemon balm recipe has become one of those drinks I make without even thinking about it. It's in regular rotation from May through September in our house. The kids love it, Donald takes a glass to his desk on weekends, and I love how easy it is.

Ten minutes, real ingredients, and a flavor that feels genuinely special. That's what I always want in a recipe.

If you try it, please leave a comment and let me know how it went! Did you add a splash of gin? Try it with lime instead of lemon? I want to hear all about it.

And please save this to Pinterest so you can find it again when summer hits and you need something refreshing to sip.

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