Citric Acid Free Mint and Lemon Balm Herbal Tea
Herbal tea sounds simple, but finding one that delivers real brightness without relying on citric acid — a common additive in commercial blends and flavored drinks — can be trickier than expected. This recipe gets its lift entirely from fresh lemon balm leaves and strips of lemon zest, which give you that clean, citrusy note the natural way. Paired with fresh mint, the result is a tea that smells incredible the moment it hits the hot water and tastes even better. The steep is short, just five minutes, and the pale gold-green color alone makes it feel like something special. A little honey stirred in at the end rounds everything out without overpowering the delicate herbal flavor. It's the kind of cup you'll want to make on slow mornings or whenever you need something calming and genuinely refreshing.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- ½ cup fresh lemon balm leaves, loosely packed
- 2 strips lemon zest (each about 2 inches long)
- 1–2 tsp honey, to taste
For serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, then remove from the heat.
- 2
Add the mint leaves, lemon balm leaves, and lemon zest strips to the hot water. Let steep for 5 minutes, until the liquid is pale gold-green and fragrant.
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