Lemon verbena
Aloysia citrodora · Herb
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Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a deciduous South American shrub of the verbena family whose long, narrow, pointed leaves carry the purest and most intense lemon aroma of any culinary herb — bright, clean and sweetly citrus with none of the sourness of the fruit. Grown for its fragrance more than its bulk, it perfumes herbal teas (its classic use), syrups, sorbets, custards and delicate fish dishes.
Picking a good onedrag
Just cut, leaves stiff and loudly lemonBlackened, limp, the lemon gone
Bunch freshEveryday bestTreat it as perfume, not a chopping herb: steep whole leaves in hot water, cream or syrup, then lift them out.
Where it came fromA grower or kitchen garden you know is not sprayed for looks
The leavesGreen but relaxed, the narrow blades curling in a little
The stemsStems firm, the odd lowest leaf yellowed or already shed
Lift the sprigTip upright, the lower leaves beginning to hang
Rub a leafClearly lemon, but you rub harder to raise it