A natural anti-stress, lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora)
Scientific name: Lippia citriodora
Higher classification: Aloysia
Rank: Species
Used plant part: Leaves, best used fresh.
What is Lemon Verbena?
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a perennial shrub in the Verbenaceae family of plants, used for both medicinal and culinary purposes.
lemon verbena is recognizable by its long, pointed leaves and rough texture.
Native to South America, this herb is grown in the wild of Peru and Chile and takes best to warm climates with full sun exposure. The lemon verbena plant grows up to 9 feet high and sprouts white flowers. The leaves of the lemon verbena plant release a potent lemony scent when bruised or rubbed, making it a popular addition to herb gardens.
What does Lemon Verbena taste like?
Lemon verbena has a bright, slightly sweet, herbaceous flavor with a distinct hint of lemon. Despite its strong lemon scent, this citrusy herb has a far less aggressive lemon flavor than lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon mint, and lemongrass.
What are the culinary uses for Lemon Verbena?
This lemon-scented herb has a number of culinary uses ranging from rich roasts to sweet citrusy desserts and jams. Lemon verbena can be used to make flavorful olive oil-based salad dressings, subtle lemon ice cream, and lemon verbena jelly, as well as season poultry dishes, salsa verde, and soups. It can be used in place of lemon zest or dried lemon as a more subtle addition to dishes, or infused into pantry ingredients like sugar and vinegar.
What are the health benefits of Lemon Verbena?
Lemon verbena tea made with fresh lemon verbena leaves and boiling water is commonly used to relieve the symptoms of colds including chills, fever, and congestion. Lemon verbena essential oil is also used topically to relieve muscle pain.
May reduce inflammation and oxidative stress because lemon verbena is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
May benefit athletes
Lemon verbena contains an abundance of compounds that protect your cells from damage. This could be particularly beneficial for athletes, as exercise causes stress and muscle damage in your body.
May improve sleep quality
Limited research suggests that lemon verbena could be helpful for those with sleep issues like insomnia. In fact, the plant has been used throughout history to treat insomnia and induce sedation