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Sometimes the most familiar plants in your garden can surprise you! My mom always grew bee balm (Monarda spp.) in her garden because it attracts birds and butterflies. As a child, I was fascinated by the unique flowers and lovely scent of the leaves. I knew that this popular garden flower is a native wildflower. Eventually, I learned that it’s also a lovely culinary herb.
How to use bee balm in the kitchen
In case you haven’t ever tried it, you should know: bee balm extract is delicious. It’s sweet and spicy, and a little buttery. Different species and cultivars of bee balm have slightly different tastes. My favorite is the red M. didyma that I’ve often seen at garden centers. It doesn’t usually have a cultivar name. I’ve also grown M. didyma “Panorama.” The cultivar Panorama seems to have a heavier oregano flavor than the other, but it’s still quite lovely.
Traditionally, this herb has a reputation for “drawing out fire” such as in the case of burns or burning sensations (like urinary tract infections and joint paint); also as being a nervine. Among its many other uses, I am glad to have it on hand for sunburns, skin problems, and attitude adjustments (gotta love nervines).
Besides health-supportive uses, though, this herb is also really nice to have in the kitchen. Whether you are foraging bee balm or growing it in your garden, read on below to find some of the ways it can be used.
As an oregano substitute
Bee balm has a flavor and aroma that’s a bit like oregano, a bit like mint, and a bit like Earl Grey tea. It’s an easy-to-grow native spice that you can use almost anywhere you would use oregano. Fish, lamb, pizza, spaghetti. . . bee balm is good stuff!
As a sophisticated tea
Besides the health benefits of bee balm tea, because it does have a flavor that’s reminiscent of Earl Grey it makes a lovely tea- either as a base for other herbs or on its own. Try it as an after-dinner tea or as a pick-me-up on days that leave you feeling stressed or down. The flowers add a touch of beautiful color to tea blends.
The View from Long Island has a refreshing iced bee balm tea recipe for you.
In salads
Minty herbs are usually really good in salads that incorporate fruit, and bee balm is no exception. The edible flowers are beautiful and are fun to include as a garnish, or you can use the leaves. It also works well in dressing recipes that would use oregano.
Use bee balm to make spice blends
If you like to make your own spice blends in the kitchen with homegrown herbs, you definitely want to keep this herb around. You can use it as the main ingredient, to feature its unique flavor, or use it in smaller amounts to add interest to other blends.
Add it to baked goods
I really want to make bee balm flower cookies, although my plants haven’t spread enough to make a big flower harvest just yet. I’ve seen them used in bread (yum!) and they would also make a stunning cake or cupcake garnish. The leaves would also make a lovely ingredient in herbed breads or savory baked goods.
Here’s a fun recipe for edible flower cookies (including bee balm) at Joybilee Farm.
Make infused fruit and flower water
Minty, citrusy bee balm is a no-brainer for agua frescas and infused waters made with fresh fruit and herbs. Melon and bee balm, berry and bee balm- Actually, I can’t think of a single fruit that this herb wouldn’t compliment. And probably several veggie garden additions, too, like cucumber. Here’s my own recipe for a bee balm, watermelon, and cucumber infused water!
Use bee balm for creative cocktails/mocktails
A dropper full of Monarda extract in sparkling water is really delightful and makes for a fun and sophisticated healthy sip. It would also make a lovely ingredient to infuse and flavor vodka or gin.
After my initial experiment with bee balm in a container on the patio, I started a bee balm patch in the garden, and that’s also doing well. The container had to be watered daily, but now that the plants are in the soil they are thriving and haven’t needed any attention at all. All in all, it has been an easy to grow native herb that is a joy to work with in the kitchen.
If you enjoy cooking with herbs with a focus on wellness, you will love my recipe book, The Complete Guide to Adaptogens. It’s full of creative herbal recipes to help you learn to use herbs to support vibrant health. You can find it wherever books are sold.
