16 In Edibles/ Gardening

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea

As those dog days of summer start to roll around, it's always nice to put your feet up and relax. You have probably been busy working on landscaping and gardening all season long. You deserve a break from all of the outdoor chores. Why not lay back in the hammock or sit on the patio with a nice, refreshing drink? What's more perfect than a delicious glass of stress relieving lemon balm and lavender iced tea!

As those dog days of summer start to roll around, it's always nice to put your feet up and relax. You have probably been busy working on landscaping and gardening all season long. You deserve a break from all of the outdoor chores. Why not lay back in the hammock or sit on the patio with a nice, refreshing drink? What's more perfect than a delicious glass of stress relieving lemon balm and lavender iced tea!

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | This ice cold drink is easy to make, and you can pick the fresh ingredients right from your very own garden! It's always been a dream of mine to have my very own lavender field that perfumes the air around me. Until then, I've started my very own lavender patch that I'm hoping to build on each year.

This ice cold drink is easy to make, and you can pick the fresh ingredients right from your very own garden! It's always been a dream of mine to have my very own lavender field that perfumes the air around me. Until then, I've started my very own lavender patch that I'm hoping to build on each year.

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | Lemon balm is one of those herbs that is super easy to grow. It doesn't need any special care and will keep growing bigger as the years go by. Like lavender, it is a very fragrant plant. I love brushing against it in the garden and smelling it's sweet scent. Both of these herbs have wonderful benefits. Lemon balm calms the mind, boosts alertness and improves the appearance of your skin.

Lemon balm is one of those herbs that is super easy to grow. It doesn't need any special care and will keep growing bigger as the years go by. Like lavender, it is a very fragrant plant. I love brushing against it in the garden and smelling it's sweet scent. Both of these herbs have wonderful benefits. Lemon balm calms the mind, boosts alertness and improves the appearance of your skin. Lavender reduces anxiety, alleviates headaches and improves sleep quality. This iced tea is both healthy and tasty!

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | Lemon balm on the right, growing in the herb garden.

Lemon balm on the right, growing in the herb garden

A Little About Lemon Balm

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | angiethefreckledrose.com

Lemon balm tends to be one of the underdogs of herbs, in my opinion. Just like lavender, it has a lovely flavor. You can use it in teas, candies, dinner dishes and more. It is also considered a medicinal herb with an endless amount of benefits. It is a popular essential oil that is used to boost alertness and focus. Here are three reasons to grow lemon balm in your garden!

Reduces Anxiety - Studies have shown that the properties in lemon balm can reduce anxiety and promote a better quality of sleep. It increases mood while boosting your alertness as I stated above. Just like lavender and chamomile, it is a calming herb that will put you in a relaxing state.

Strengthens Memory - Lemon balm supports brain health and strengthens memory, thinking and mood quality. It has properties that have been shown to protect the brain from free radicals. It contains Rosmarinic acid, an anti-oxidant that is beneficial in protecting the brain. 

A Helpful Digestive Aid - This herb can help with nausea and promotes healthy digestion. When you drink it as a tea, it can help the body digest food more effectively. It can assist in decreasing and alleviating the painful stomach spasms associated with irritable bowl syndrome. 

Lemon balm can help with headaches, anxiety, mild depression, nausea, hypertension and more.

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | Photo of lavender & bee taken at Willowsford Farm in Ashburn, Virginia

Photo of lavender & bee taken at Willowsford Farm in Ashburn, Virginia

I had a bit of trouble with growing lavender when I first started out gardening. I made every mistake in the book. I planted it in shade when it needed full sun, I overwatered a plant that prefers dry soil, and I even bought annuals thinking they were perennials. Once I got through the learning curve and did some research, I was good to go. ALWAYS do your research first.

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | I learned through my years of growing that lavender has many health benefits. It is excellent for respiratory disorders and helps relieve congestion. It can improve blood circulation and also reduce blood pressure. This medicinal herb can also boost your immunity, keeping your body resistant to diseases.

I learned through my years of growing that lavender has many health benefits. It is excellent for respiratory disorders and helps relieve congestion. It can improve blood circulation and also reduce blood pressure. This medicinal herb can also boost your immunity, keeping your body resistant to diseases.

Lavender can help with indigestion, hair loss, skin health, muscle pain, healing and more.

My Top 3 Favorite Lavender Varieties

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | angiethefreckledrose.com

Phenomenal Lavender (Zones 5 - 10) - This is my absolute favorite lavender for my freeze prone zone in New England! I received a plant from Peace Tree Farms at the Garden Bloggers Fling in Washington DC this year. I immediately came home and purchased more! Unlike other varieties of lavender, it doesn't experience the die back during harsh winters. It is hardy with silvery foliage and a mounding habit. You can purchase it at your local retailer or online from American Meadows.

Platinum Blonde Lavender (Zones 6 - 9) - This is a truly unique variety of English lavender. It boasts beautiful broad grey-green and cream variegated leaves with purple-blue flowers. It is a compact variety, perfect for growing in containers, on a patio or a porch. You can find this variety at American Meadows.

Provence Lavender (Zones 5 - 9) - This variety has a complex fragrance that will definitely catch your attention. It is one of the tallest hybrid varieties growing up to three feet! It features long, light mauve-purple spiked flowers and gray-green foliage. This variety is extremely heat tolerant and commonly used in perfumes, soaps and sachets. You can purchase it at American Meadows

A Tour Through the Garden in July | Phenomenal lavender growing in the sun garden.

Phenomenal lavender growing in the sun garden

Make Your Own Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea

Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea Recipe
A calming and stress reducing drink perfect to help you unwind in the shade.
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cups of hot water
  2. 1/4 cup of lemon balm leaves
  3. 1 tablespoon of lavender buds
  4. 1-2 tablespoons of honey
  5. 2 cups of cold water and ice
  6. 2 slices of lemon
Instructions
  1. Bring 2 cups of hot water to a boil in pot.
  2. Add both lemon balm and lavender to water.
  3. Remove pot from heat. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
  4. Strain out leaves.
  5. Add cold water and ice.
  6. Add in honey and squeeze slice of lemon wedge.
  7. Serve over additional ice.
  8. Garnish glass with a lemon wedge, a sprig of lavender and lemon balm.
Angie The Freckled Rose https://www.angiethefreckledrose.com/

Calming & Stress Reducing Lemon Balm & Lavender Iced Tea | angiethefreckledrose.com

This is a very simple summertime drink that is worth a try! It's easy to make, and you can customize it by mixing in green tea or black tea bags. It is sure to help reduce the stress brought on by weeds and pesky aphids. I am speaking from personal experience! It is really yummy, and the fact that the ingredients are fresh from the garden makes it taste even better! What is your favorite summertime drink to sip on while you listen to those late August bugs hum? Tell me in the comment section below. Hope you all are kicking back and enjoying the last stretch of summer days!

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Tuesdays In The Garden | Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, we will be sharing a themed Tuesday In The Garden post! We will be covering seasonal crops, herb gardening, growing flowers, DIY projects, garden gifts, harvesting tips, preserving, garden to table recipes and so much more. You can check out each of our posts to help you get inspired and give you some creative new ideas. Take a look at these great posts below!

Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, we will be sharing a themed Tuesday In The Garden post! We will be covering seasonal crops, herb gardening, growing flowers, DIY projects, garden gifts, harvesting tips, preserving, garden to table recipes and so much more. You can check out each of our posts to help you get inspired and give you some creative new ideas. Take a look at these great posts below!

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As those dog days of summer start to roll around, it's always nice to put your feet up and relax. You have probably been busy working on landscaping and gardening all season long. You deserve a break from all of the outdoor chores. Why not lay back in the hammock or sit on the patio with a nice, refreshing drink? What's more perfect than a delicious cold glass of stress relieving lemon balm and lavender iced tea!
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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Robbielatree doyle
    August 10, 2017 at 9:45 am

    Great blog ,very informative. I love ice tea,I will be making this soon, my mom the herbs growing in her garden. Thanks for sharing

  • Reply
    Shelly
    August 9, 2017 at 9:26 am

    I have neither of these in my own garden. I used to grow lavender at our old house but I’ve never planted it here. But I bet my friend has both of these in her garden so I can give this recipe a try. It sounds delightful,

  • Reply
    Jigeesha
    August 9, 2017 at 5:54 am

    Even just looking at the pictures makes me feel so gooood! Lemon and lavender are two of my favorite ingredients. Would definitely try this recipe out.

  • Reply
    Paige
    August 9, 2017 at 12:12 am

    Wonderful benefits aside, this sounds really tasty! I’ll definitely be trying it out – thanks for the recipe!

  • Reply
    Kate
    August 8, 2017 at 10:54 pm

    This looks so good! I wish I had a garden…I would totally grow lavender!

  • Reply
    jen @ thehollyhockdoor
    August 8, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    THis sounds wonderful and really refreshing! I have some lavender in my garden pots ( it’s sunny and dry where I am so it’s not so much work !) so I’ll be trying this for sure!

  • Reply
    Audrey Marie
    August 8, 2017 at 6:49 pm

    What a wonderful recipe; I’ve never heard of lemon balm before! Sounds like a great drink to relax with while reading a good book!

  • Reply
    Willow
    August 8, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    I love teas that relax me and reduce my anxiety! I usually make kava tea, but I will have to give lemon balm a try! I’m not sure if I have ever had lavender tea. I do use lavender essential oil and love that!

  • Reply
    Crystal // Dreams, etc.
    August 8, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    This flavor combination sounds like it would be amazing. Thanks for all the helpful information about the herbs, too! I use lavender essential oil for its skincare and sleep benefits.

  • Reply
    Paige
    August 8, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    This sounds amazing! You had me at lavender. There is a cafe in Charlotte that makes lavender lemonade and I could drink it every single day.

  • Reply
    Shelby @Fitasamamabear
    August 8, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    This looks amazing- I love making my own teas using actual herbs!

  • Reply
    Jaime
    August 8, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    Great article! I loooove lemon tea. Anyone interested in this stuff should definitely check out the book Everyday Roots. It teaches you how to replace all the toxic chemicals in your life with healthy organic alternatives. Its completely changed my life and how I feel everyday! 🙂

    Heres a great review of everday roots: http://reggiesreview.weebly.com/everyday-roots-review.html

  • Reply
    Diane Williams
    August 8, 2017 at 11:09 am

    I love this post! I have both lemon balm and lavender in the garden. The lemon balm is trying to take over! This drink is on my must make list. I have a couple of different lavenders but I’m not sure which varieties. I will keep bring in more of them. Love that beautiful bush!

  • Reply
    Patti
    August 8, 2017 at 10:44 am

    This sounds delicious Angie. Refreshing and calming. I have a ton of lavender but no lemon balm. I’ve grown it before and cannot figure out why I don’t have it in this garden. Thanks for the reminder and great recipe.

  • Reply
    Jami
    August 8, 2017 at 10:04 am

    Can not wait to make this, Angie! My mom has lemon balm growing and this looks amazing.

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