Ways to Use Lemon Verbena from Your Garden

Overview

Lemon verbena, a mint-family herb with a lemony scent and taste, often replaces lemon zest in recipes. It aids digestion, soothes nerves, benefits skin and hair, and can be used in homemade personal care products.

Step 1: Lemon Verbena Sugar

Mince 6 fresh leaves per cup of sugar. Mix thoroughly. Use in baked goods (muffins, fruit) or sprinkle on cookies for lemony sugar cookies.

Step 2: Hair Rinse

Boil 1 cup water. Place 3 tbsp fresh leaves in a tea ball, steep 1 hour. Remove tea ball and use as a hair rinse.

Step 3: Soothing Tea

Mix 1–2 pinches fresh or dried lemon verbena with mint or rose hips in a tea ball. Steep in 1 cup boiling water a few minutes. Lemon verbena is strong—a pinch is enough.

Step 4: Culinary Herb Blend

Add a pinch of fresh or dried lemon verbena with other cooking herbs to meat, vegetable, soup, or other dishes for a lemony flavor without sourness.