Lemon mint smell/taste like basil?

14 years ago

I picked up some lemon mint from a nursery and it smells and tastes like basil. It made the WORST tea! Do they have it mislabeled or is that really how it tastes?

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Comments (9)

ksrogers
14 years ago
Who knows? Buying herbs at nurseries are sometimes mismarked or not of a quality you would expect. I don't think lemon mint would offer a true flavor of mint and lemon as a combination. Even things like Celestial Seasonings teas use many different kinds of components to get to a flavor point where it would be popular. As people get older, they also tend to lose the sense of taste and even the sense of smell, and some things can have an odd flavor to you, but to someone else they can be really tasty. Basil, even a possible lemon type might offer only a very slight hint of lemon, whereas lemon grass would give a much bolder lemon taste.
fatamorgana2121
14 years ago
Did the label/plant tag give you the botanical name for the "lemon mint?" That may help us to explain much.

FataMorgana
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eibren
14 years ago
I wouldn't make any more tea from it until you are certain what it is. Lemon balm makes a weak, but pleasant tea.

I have noticed some garden shops selling "black horehound" in their culinary herb sections. Black horehound is reportedly poisonous, and the leaf looks a bit like lemon mint--sort of roundish and a bit crinkled, but darker. I don't know why they sell it; maybe as a ground cover. It has no medicinal or culinary uses that I am aware of.

White horehound is medicinal, used for bronchitis, and very bitter. Black horehound has an awful smell and taste.
cyrus_gardner
14 years ago
Of all the mints I have eaten so far, I like the one sold at Asian markets. It has a very mild flavor and aroma , with and is tender to eat, use ar garnis, in salads. I have rooted and planted some of it in my garden and coming along nicely.

If I am not mistaken, Mint tea is made from dried mint not frash one. Among my family, it is used against cold and to sooth throat, abdominal pain,.. not as a regular beverage.

I have learned that lemon Grass can make a better beverage(tea), either by itself or when added to regular tea.
apothecary1981
14 years ago
The lemon basil I have grown does have a distinct lemony smell, though it also has the smell and taste of basil mixed with it. It is a wonderful herb to use with fish, chicken, or vegetables. I have not made lemon basil tea, but am aware that basil tea has numerous health benefits. Have you considered adding some honey to it? You should be able to identify your plant by its leaf shape. Lemon balm has a rounded leaf with a scalloped edge. Lemon basil has a leaf that comes to a point and has a smooth edge, much like regular basil, but a bit narrower. I do not believe you have lemon balm, as I have never found a basil aroma or flavor in that herb.
fatamorgana2121
14 years ago
I have learned that lemon Grass can make a better beverage(tea), either by itself or when added to regular tea.

Lemon grass and green tea....yummy. I made up some tea gift boxes at Christmas. Most were herbal blends but one of the blends I made up and tea-bagged was a green tea, lemon grass, and lemon peel blend. While I didn't measure out the ingredients, the ratios were about 3 parts Japanese Green Tea (I can't recall if it was Sencha or Bancha I used), 2 parts lemon grass (dried), and 1 part lemon peel (dried). Reports are that was the favorite one of the 6 blends I made.

Enjoy the recipe!

FataMorgana
Gardener972
Original Author
14 years ago
I looked at the label again and it's labeled Lemon Mint and on the back it says Monarda Citriodora. When I looked that up, it's clearly NOT that. I'm beginning to think the label got switched. The leaf is rounded (no pointed tip) and looking CLOSELY, a few serated leaves can be seen but they're not very visible. It's not bee balm as I have that. It definitely tasted like basil so that's what I'm going to use it as.
ksrogers
14 years ago
Labels are only put on pots. Anyone can come by, take a label off, and put it on another similar plant, either intentional or not. I had something labeled 'Brussles Sprouts', when it was planted, they grow into regulat hesds of cabbage. A far cry rom a brussel sprout! Avoid reading everything thats stated on labels. Especially seedlings, unless you grow your own from known sources of seeds.
wally_1936
14 years ago
Fresh mint tea sure taste MUCH better than dried. Pour boiling water over the fresh leaves and let steep for a while and strain. You will never go back to dried leaves again, takes the oil and most of the flavor out when dried. I like spearmint over all others.