Bee balm is a beautiful native wildflower that grows right here on Iowa’s prairies, with shaggy purple or scarlet blooms that bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love. It’s also called wild bergamot or monarda, and it’s a member of the mint family with a bold aroma similar to oregano and thyme. Native peoples used it for generations, and after the Boston Tea Party American colonists brewed it as “Oswego tea” in place of imported black tea. Bee balm is naturally rich in thymol, the same aromatic compound found in thyme. It’s traditionally used to support the body during the cold months, soothe the throat and ease occasional digestive upset. Ways to use it: Tea: steep 1 to 2 teaspoons, covered, in hot water for 10 minutes. Sweeten it with raw honey for a warming, soothing cup. Herbal steam: add a handful to a bowl of steaming water, drape a towel over your head and breathe deeply. Honey: infuse it in raw honey for a flavorful wintertime spoonful. Kitchen: use it in place of oregano or thyme in soups, stews and roasted meats. Cautions: avoid it during pregnancy. Sold by the ounce.
