How to Preserve Lemon Balm

The lemon balm plant is a member of the mint family and often used as a natural source of medicine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, lemon balm has been used for stress relief, appetite improvement, indigestion problems and a sleep aid since the Middle Ages. For many medicinal purposes, the leaves of lemon balm are preserved and used to make tea or tinctures.

Scissors
Twine
Glass jar

Instructions

- 1
  Harvest the lemon balm once the plants reach between 8 and 12 inches tall. Cut the stem just above the bottom set of leaves if you wish to let it grow longer. This heavy pruning will promote a bushier plant.
- 2
  Rinse the lemon balm under cool running water to wash away dirt. Pat the leaves dry with a paper towel.
- 3
  Wrap twine around the bottoms of the lemon balm stems and tie it in a knot. The twine must be able to hold all of the lemon balm plants together.
- 4
  Hang the lemon balm in a warm, dry area until the leaves dry, usually between two to seven days, depending mostly on the humidity level in the air. Do not hang the plants in direct sunlight as it may cause browning on the leaves.
- 5
  Crumble the dried leaves into a glass jar. Put a lid on the glass jar and store it in a dark, dry area, such as a cabinet or pantry.

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