Description

Botanical name: Melissa officinalis

Origin: Europe

Lemon balm, also known as Sweet Melissa, is a perennial member of the mint family native to Europe and the Mediterranean region.

This herb has a long history of recorded use dating more than 2,000 years. Theophrastus, scholar and student of Aristotle and Plato, referred to the plant as “honey leaf,”perhaps a reference to the plant being a highly attractive to bees. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans dedicated lemon balm to the goddess of the hunt, known by name as Artemis and Diana, respectively.

Today, the dried herb is used to make various cosmetic preparations and is enjoyed as tea.