Some people eat it, I don't like the bristley leaves, you're much better off with lemon myrtle or lemon thyme. Some people make tea from it, it tastes like sh-t, the flavour is too subtle, you're better off with lemongrass. Some people say it repels insects, I've tried it and it doesn't work. You're better off with RID or citronella is pretty good. I love lemon balm but all it's really good for is srunching up and enjoying the fragrance, which is what you're doing now! :)

Pop over to Herbs in the US and try searching there. Lots of similar questions. I've posted oodles of recipes for lemon balm.

But if you don't like to eat it, scrunch up the leaves and use it to polish your furniture. The oils in the leaves help protect the timber, it leaves a lovely smell, and it does have some insect-repellent properties. Leaves a nice shine, too.

You could also make a strong tea from the leaves, put it into a squirty bottle, and use it as a room freshener. Or use it to wipe your kitchen benches, clean your bathroom etc.

Chopping up the leaves in a salad/pasta dish makes them more palatable.
There is a recipe for lemon balm wine, if you're interested, though I've never made it myself.

Thanks. I think I much prefer the volunteer parsely, coriander and lettuce. Good for grazing.

Daisyduckworth said: But if you don't like to eat it, scrunch up the leaves and use it to polish your furniture. The oils in the leaves help protect the timber, it leaves a lovely smell, and it does have some insect-repellent properties. Leaves a nice shine, too.

Thank you for this tip - I tried it and it is really useful. I used it on our outdoor furniture in the hope of repelling crawlies!

One other use is to cook it in the pot with green beans - this gives a really nice flavour to the beans.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Cosmic Garden

I called in at our local nursery today and in conversation with an old bloke learned that Lemon Balm is a good codling and cabbage moth repellent so grown under apple trees or round brassicas might be a useful addition to the pest control. I'm going to try it - there's no way them little buggers are getting into my apples if I have to plant every known herb!

Linda

It attracts bees when it's in flower, which is always useful in the garden.

The tea's not a great taste but it does help settle the innards after a dose of self-indulgence. (More for heavy things like bread than doughnuts, though.)

Not bad in dry pot pourri but it doesn't last the distance as some leaves do (rose geranium eg)

If the frost gets your lemon verbena, lemon balm is an ok substitute.

It can be a Monster to extract once it gets to a couple of years old, though. A pick-axe job. It gangs up with buttercup to make life miserable in the shrubbery.

My stepson uses it for cold sores...boil some leaves in water and soak a cloth in the tea and apply to the lip...needs to be done at the first 'tingle'. Tina

I place a sprig or two on my outdoor table and it deters the ants so I'm happy

I lost my lemon balm recently to my mattock wielding husband who was on a tidy up rampage - he thought it was a weed.

Luckily there is a bit springing up over the other side of the path, so all is not lost. I will try and find an old posting about uses of lemon balm as I remember asking just the same thing some time ago and there were lots of interesting suggestions. I don't know how long these subjects are kept on Garden Web. You will see it at the top again if I am successful.
Eve