Herb

Bee Balm

Bee balm (Monarda), also called bergamot herb or Oswego tea, is a North American mint-family plant with red, pink, or purple flower heads and oregano-citrus leaves. Leaves brew tea and season poultry; petals garnish salads. Distinct from citrus bergamot (Citrus bergamia), culinary bee balm is used fresh or dried in small amounts. Wild and garden monardas vary from mild to quite thyme-like.

Also known as: Bee Balm / Oswego Tea, Wild Bergamot, Bergamot Herb

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Flower

Leaf

Stem

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Variety

Cambridge ScarletJacob ClineLemon Bee BalmMonarda citriodoraMonarda didymaMonarda fistulosaMonarda punctataPanorama MixRaspberry WineScarlet Bee BalmSpotted Bee BalmWild Bergamot

Source

HydroponicIndoor FarmedOutdoor FarmedWild

Provenance

BiodynamicFair TradeGreenhouse GrownHeirloomHeritage SeedLocally GrownNon-GMOOpen PollinatedOrganicPesticide FreeRegenerativeSeasonal

Preparation

BruisedChilledChoppedCrackedDriedFreeze DriedFreshFrozenGroundInfusedMincedPastePickledPowderRubbedSeededToastedTornWhole

CommonCharacteristic

AromaticCitrusFloralFreshMintOreganoPepperyTea-like

History

500 BCEUS

Indigenous peoples of North America used Monarda as tea and medicinal aromatic.

1700US

Oswego tea from bee balm became known to European settlers as a native herbal drink.

1800

Garden monardas spread to European borders as ornamentals with secondary culinary use.

2000

Chef foragers and herb farms revived bee balm leaves and flowers as native aromatics.