Lemon Balm Mojitos

I was a little late to the Mojitos party. Apparently, Mojitos have taken the beverage world by storm. I wouldn't know because after years of waiting tables in nightclubs, I haven't really set foot in one in ages. All this changed on a work trip to Las Vegas last year. Reading the in-flight magazine, I came across a worshipful article praising the lovely Mojito, featuring a delicious-looking sidebar recipe. And although they invite you to take a copy of the in-flight magazine home with you, I opted instead to simply tear out the pages, leaving the now Mojitoless magazine crammed in the seatback pocket.

While in Las Vegas, I was spending a late evening at a cocktail bar with my boss and his wife, and saw Mojitos on the menu (Two Mojito moments on one trip? Was this a sign?). But they were $12 each, enough to make me think that maybe Mojitos were not the drink for me. But my boss had a company credit card and ordered a round of Mojitos for everyone (lovely man), and then another and another after that. And although this probably added up to about $300 of Mojitos, I was hooked. Smooth, limey, minty and tart, this was simply the best drink I had enjoyed in years.

Back on the homefront, my Mojito mojo was limited by my lack of mint. Now, I know that in most people's yards mint grows like crazy. My parents used to live in a house where the mint completely took over the yard, and no amount of effort on my Dad's part could kill the it. I can't grow mint (or Rosemary or Lavender either, but that's another story). I don't know why. Every year (as hope springs eternally in my garden), I plant a couple of plants and every year I manage to kill it. I can grow other herbs and vegetables successfully, but when it comes to mint, I seem to be at a loss. Until last week. I read a gardening article that mentioned that Lemon Balm was great in Mojitos, used in place of the mint. I've got a huge Lemon Balm plant, that without a doubt is the most useless plant in my garden. It smells nice but I have no idea what to do with it. So I decided to try making my Mojitos of my dreams with the Lemon Balm of my reality. They were good! A little different than those made with the traditional mint, but no less fantastic! Tart, tangy, fragrant and lemon-limey delicious, they taste like summer on ice. So now that I can make Mojitos with lemon balm, who cares if I kill the mint?

Lemon Balm Mojitos - makes one drink

handful of fresh lemon balm leaves, garden dirt rinsed off

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 shot of rum

Freshly squeezed lime

tonic water

Put the lemon balm and the sugar in a short glass, and muddle until well mushed together (don't go crazy, or you will have bits of lemon balm in your teeth). Add the shot of rum, a squeeze of lime, and fill the glass with tonic water. Add ice and stir gently. Garnish with a lime or lemon balm sprig. Cheers!

 

Comments

[ange]

did a search since I have lemon balm, rum, and lime thinking there's GOT to be a lemon balm majito! And thanks to you, I will be in heaven tonight. :) put your lemon balm in the ice tea brew basket or in your hot tea, or do a search in making infusions. Lemon balm is supposedly good for everything that ails you!