Lemon verbena, also called scented verbena or lemon-scented verbena, is an aromatic and medicinal plant prized for its delightful lemon fragrance. Since Antiquity, it has been credited with many benefits. Its leaves are used fresh or dried to make soothing, digestive infusions or to flavour small dishes. They are also useful for keeping mosquitoes away in summer or for making scented potpourri for the home! In the garden, it charms with its white or mauve flowering in summer that delights pollinating insects. Very tender (-8/-10 °C), it can be grown in a pot or planted outdoors depending on climate. To enjoy it all year round, drying is an ideal solution. Discover the different methods to dry lemon verbena and how to store it well!
What is lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora and Aloysia triphylla) is a perennial undershrub that can reach up to 3 m in height. Native to South America, particularly Peru, it is often confused with lemon balm, which is also nicknamed “citronnelle”. Its leaves, a fresh green, lanceolate and very fragrant, exude a lemon aroma and deliver a tangy, refreshing flavour. With their lemon notes, they can be enjoyed as an infusion, but also used in cooking to flavour desserts or savoury dishes such as fish. It thrives in full sun in well-drained soil and has its place in the garden and vegetable patch among aromatic herbs.
→ Discover our Aloysia citriodora or A. triphylla as young plants
→ Learn more about verbena with our complete fact sheet
When to dry lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena leaves are best harvested before flowering, around June. At this time the plant's aromas are at their most intense, ensuring optimal flavour for your infusions, but you can harvest throughout the summer. Harvest your leaves regularly by cutting 30 cm verbena shoots using a pruning shear. Take healthy stems, free from whiteflies, which often attack the plant.
How to dry lemon verbena leaves?
- Before drying, shake the stems to remove any insects that may be present
- Rinse them in clear water
- Dry them in a clean cloth or in absorbent paper to remove as much water as possible and to facilitate drying.
For drying, several techniques exist before savouring a lemon verbena infusion:
- In the oven: lay leaves on a tray lined with baking paper and bake at 50°C for 2 to 3 hours. Be sure to stir regularly for homogeneous drying. When the leaves are completely dry, strip them from the stems.
- Air-drying: hang bundles of verbena stems tied with string, head down, in a dry, airy place. Allow one to two weeks of drying. Afterwards strip the leaves from the stems. Another option: simply place the verbena leaves in newspaper and leave to dry for a few days in a warm, dry place. Then strip the leaves.
- In a dehydrator: spread the leaves over the trays and dry at 40°C for about 5 hours. Drying time varies according to temperature, dehydrator type and the amount of water naturally contained in the leaves.
How to store lemon verbena?
To store lemon verbena, simply place it in an airtight container such as airtight glass, plastic or metal jars. Kraft paper bags will also do. Store them at room temperature, in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and light for best preservation. Dried leaves will keep their aroma for at least one year.
How to use lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena is mainly consumed as an infusion for its pleasant lemon taste. To prepare a lemon verbena tisane, take one teaspoon of dried leaves and pour over a cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for about 10 minutes. This infusion can be drunk at any time of day, but is particularly beneficial in the evening thanks to its relaxing properties.
An essential oil is also extracted from its leaves for use in inhalation or massage.
Lemon verbena can also be used in cooking to flavour your dishes. Whether in dessert recipes such as crème brûlée or lemon tarts, or in savoury dishes such as marinades, its lemon aroma pairs perfectly with fish or poultry.
Lemon verbena can also be used to scent the home. A few dried leaves in a potpourri, mixed with other fragrant plants or in a fabric sachet make a natural deodoriser for drawers and wardrobes !
What are the benefits of lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena has many benefits. It is recognised for its digestive and soothing properties. It is a plant rich in antioxidants, terpenoids and mucilages that act on the nervous system. Mildly sedative, it is also reputed to relieve nervous tension, neuralgia and to calm stress. Lemon verbena essential oil may help combat depression, irritability and nervous fatigue.
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