Spring Orchard Lemon Balm Spritz

Cheers

Friday evening, late spring, pretty glass in hand, and not a spirit in sight.

This little beauty is bright, botanical, lightly bitter, and made for that “I want something special but I still want to feel amazing tomorrow” kind of mood.

Spring Orchard Lemon Balm Spritz

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz strong lemon balm tea, chilled

• 1 oz fresh orange juice

• ¼ oz fresh lemon juice

• ¼ oz honey syrup, optional

• 3 dashes digestive bitters

• Top with sparkling water

• Garnish with orange + a small rosemary sprig

How to make it
Shake lemon balm tea, orange juice, lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters with ice. Strain over fresh ice, top with sparkling water, garnish, and sip your way into weekend bliss.

Bright citrus. Garden herbs. A little sparkle. A little edge.

Because the ritual still feels beautiful—even without the booze.

Would you shake this up for a Friday night sip?

Lemon balm is the right herb for this mocktail because it adds flavor and functionality without making the drink feel medicinal.

Flavor-wise, lemon balm tastes like a softer cousin of mint: lemon peel, green herbs, a little tea-like freshness, and a gentle cooling finish. That makes it perfect with orange, bitters, rosemary, and bubbles, as they lift the drink rather than weigh it down.

Mood-wise, lemon balm has a long history as a calming herb, and modern research is examining its effects on stress, mood, sleep quality, and cognitive demand. Some clinical research and reviews suggest lemon balm may help support a calmer mood. However, the evidence is still developing, and many studies use concentrated extracts rather than a simple tea infusion.

The main “why” is that lemon balm contains compounds like rosmarinic acid and aromatic plant oils. Researchers believe these may influence the body’s calming pathways, including the GABA system, which helps the nervous system shift out of high-alert mode. That does not mean lemon balm is a treatment for anxiety or depression, but it is a reasonable, gentle botanical to describe as calm-supportive.