What's better - fresh or dried lemon balm?
Written by
Thomas Wilson
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.Deciding whether to use fresh or dried lemon balm is entirely dependent on your specific use of it. This herb has been cultivated and preserved throughout my gardening career, which spans over 20 growing seasons now. Each offers its own particular advantages for various uses. If these advantages are perceived, great benefit may follow. It is the use you have in mind that will correspondingly dictate the proper form in which to obtain your lemon balm.
Fresh Leaves
- Superior for uncooked dishes like salads and garnishes
- Retains bright citrus notes lost in drying
- Essential for topical applications and compresses
- Best texture for herb butters and pestos
Dried Leaves
- Ideal for long-steeped teas and infusions
- Concentrates rosmarinic acid for medicinal use
- Stores 12-18 months in airtight containers
- Easier measurement for consistent dosing
Preserved Forms
- Frozen: Captures fresh flavor for off-season use
- Infused oils: Best for skin applications
- Essential oils: Maximum concentration for aromatherapy
- Vinegars: Extends usability for culinary purposes
Heat sensitivity plays a large role in which form is chosen. Fresh leaves rapidly lose their volatile oils when heated. Add them within the last two minutes of cooking. The dried leaves, because they can withstand longer cooking times in soups and stews, will stand up better to such treatment. I reserve the essential oils of the plant for heating non-applications, using the diffusers.
Methods of preservation bridge seasonal shortages. Freezing chopped leaves in oil yields a product of comparable quality to the fresh. Drying concentrates certain compounds, sufficient for herbal teas. I keep all three forms for my use the entire year. This assures me that I have the special quality required for each work.
Correct storage keeps the unique features of each form unimpaired. Fresh leaves should be refrigerated and wrapped in damp towels. Dried leaves need to be stored in dark glass jars. Essential oils must be kept away from heat. Each form should be labelled with the date. Such measures are effective tools for conserving energy.
Read the full article: 10 Lemon Balm Uses: More Than You Knew!
