Difference between mint and lemon balm

The number of people who take care of their health is growing every year. Many people refuse fatty foods, foods rich in preservatives, dyes, flavor enhancers and switch to a healthy diet, which cannot be imagined without natural products, fresh juices and herbal teas. Chamomile, raspberries, currants - all these are the components of invigorating and healthy drinks that have replaced soda and artificial teas. But the first place in the ranking is held by fragrant herbs - mint and lemon balm, which can be grown on your own personal plot. Both mint and lemon balm are very useful, contain many vitamins, and have medicinal properties. By the way, mint is a great addition to many dishes and cocktails, for example, to the famous mojito. Due to the fact that the leaves of these plants are similar, they are often confused. If you need to add mint to the dish, or make a decoction of lemon balm, then it will not be superfluous to find out their differences.

Botany

Mint is a representative of the family of lamines. Mint roots are thin, fibrous, erect stem. The leaves of this herb are slightly pointed, ovoid, and have a characteristic menthol aroma. Mint can reach a height of one meter, although more modest sizes are more common - about thirty centimeters. Mint rarely bears fruit, if you are lucky enough to see its fruit, it will be slightly rough, may have hairs in the upper part. The fruit contains four nuts. Pale purple mint flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.

Melissa also belongs to the perennial plants of the family of lamiplops. Lemon balm fruit is smooth, egg-shaped, contains four nuts. Flowers of lilac or lilac color come across, they are collected in false rings of 6-12 flowers each. The stem of lemon balm is branched, has hairs on the surface. In height, this herbaceous plant can reach one and a half meters. Melissa exudes a spicy scent somewhat reminiscent of lemon.

The difference between mint and lemon balm

The use of mint and lemon balm

Mint is extremely valuable essential oil, the content of which in the leaves reaches 2.75%, in inflorescences up to 6%. This plant is widely used in pharmacology, where it is added to herbal preparations. Mint helps to fight stomach diseases, is useful for neuralgia and bronchitis. In cooking, mint is used as a flavoring agent. They add it not only to cocktails and alcoholic drinks, but also to baked goods, hot dishes and even soups.

Leaves and flowers of lemon balm contain up to 0.8% essential oils. In cooking, lemon balm, due to the spicy aroma of the leaves, is used as a substitute for allspice. Also added as a seasoning to soups, game, salads. In order for the grass not to lose its properties, it must not be heat treated. In medicine, it is used as an antiviral, antidepressant and antispasmodic agent.

Conclusions TheDifference.ru

  1. Mint has a straight stem, while lemon balm has a branched stem.
  2. Mint smells like menthol, and the scent of lemon balm is more spicy, reminiscent of lemon.
  3. Mint flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, and in lemon balm in false rings.
  4. Mint has a high content of essential oil, while lemon balm is much less.
  5. Both mint and lemon balm are used in cooking. But mint is more like a flavoring, and lemon balm as a seasoning.
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