Herbal Teas on the Cheap: Part 11 - Bergamot

Bergamot? What is that? Obviously, having never heard of this before, I do not have high hopes that it is native to the Northeastern United States. Let's see what we can find...

Well, it seems that it is a "sweet lemon" that grows near Bergamo in Northern Italy. Although the fruit is inedible, the essential oil is used to give Earl Gray tea its distinctive flavor. If you are to use this in your tea blend, you will probably need to find a supplier of essential oil.

Is there a suitable substitute for this? I see references to "sweet lemon" or "sour orange", so would it be possible to use a combination of regular oranges and lemons? That would be some thing to experiment with.

Interestingly, Bergamot is phototoxic so you should avoid massaging it into your skin if you are going out into strong sunlight. It has a long history of being used in potpourri and perfume recipes.

Herbal Teas on the Cheap: Part 6 - Balmy With a Chance of Lemons

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a small shrub-like plant and is a member of the mint family with similar oval-shaped leaves. Native to Europe and the Mediterranean, it is grown all over the world. Lemon balm has a faint lemon scent and has been used for centuries to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion.

Lemon balm is often used as a flavoring in ice cream and herbal teas, both hot and iced, often in combination with other herbs such as spearmint. It is also frequently paired with fruit dishes or candies. It can be used in fish dishes and is the key ingredient in lemon balm pesto. It has been suggested that it might be a better, healthier preservative than beta hydroxy acid in sausages. 

The crushed leaves, when rubbed on the skin, are used as a repellant for mosquitoes.
Lemon balm is also used medicinally as an herbal tea, or in extract form. It is claimed to have antibacterial and antiviral properties

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_officinalis

Lemon Balm grow to around 24 inches tall and looks like over-sized mint. After the last frost, plant in a sunny location. In some of the warmer zones, it will do better in partial shade, especially at mid-day. Whenever your plant is looking tired due to drought, hail, insects, or other stress, just cut it back and let it rejuvenate itself with fresh, new growth. Lemon balm likes rich, moist, but well-drained soil with a pH of 6 to 7. Because it is harvested continually for lots of leaves, it needs a little fertilizer.

Harvesting, Drying and Storing

Harvest the leaves of this plant throughout the Summer and dry using your dehydrator. If  you don't own a dehydrator, you can use a drying screen in a dark place. Store dehydrated leaves in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until ready to use.

Special Notes
Lemon balm may be considered a noxious weed or invasive plant in some areas. Lemon balm is drought tolerant and is useful in xeriscaping. Lemon balm is known to attract bees, butterflies and birds and has fragrant blossoms. Lemon balm self-sows freely; remove flowers (deadhead) if you do not want volunteer seedlings the following season.