Bee balm
모나르다 / 비 밤
ⓒ
Photo: Joe Schneid, Louisville, Kentucky · CC BY 3.0 · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)
An herb with bright red flowers shaped like fireworks. Around the American Revolution, people who refused British tea are said to have brewed tea from its leaves. The red-flowered type smells similar to Earl Grey tea.
Flavor and aroma
- The red-flowered type (Monarda didyma) smells like black tea with a citrus note, similar to the bergamot orange in Earl Grey.
- Purple- and pink-flowered types have a spicy herbal aroma like oregano and thyme.
Fun facts
- Its English nickname "Oswego tea" comes from Native Americans in the Oswego area of New York brewing tea from its leaves.
- It's said to have been drunk instead of British tea after the Boston Tea Party (1773).
- It's also called "bergamot," but it's a different plant from the bergamot orange used to scent Earl Grey.
- Folklore The name "bee balm" comes from crushed leaves once being applied to bee stings.
In the kitchen
Drinks
- Make herbal tea (Oswego tea) with the leaves and flowers.
Desserts
- The red-flowered type goes well with fruit, cakes, custards and ice cream.
Cooking
- Use leaves of the purple and pink types instead of oregano. They suit chicken and lamb.
Garnish
- Pull off the petals and scatter them over salads, desserts and pizza.
Other ideas
- Soak flowers and leaves in white balsamic vinegar for a pink herb vinegar. Make jelly, or mix dried leaves with sumac to use like za'atar (a Middle Eastern seasoning).
Goes well with
FruitHoneyCreamChickenTomato
Tips
- Pick the flowers just as they open. The leaves are more aromatic than the flowers.
Season
We're still checking the season. We'll add it once we find a source.
Details
- Korean name
- 모나르다 / 비 밤
- English names
- bee balm, Oswego tea, scarlet beebalm
- Scientific name
- Monarda didyma
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Monarda
Show sources for this page
References for this herb
- Wikipedia
- Fine Gardening
- Discover Life(조지아대 식물표본관)
- Backyard Forager
- OAEC Nursery
Name and classification
Photo
Joe Schneid, Louisville, Kentucky · CC BY 3.0 · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)