Bee Balm Jelly Recipe

This recipe for how to make homemade Bee Balm jelly is a great edible flower jelly recipe. It is fun to be able to use edible flowers like Bee Balm to make something beautiful and delicious.

I have made many edible flower jellies. All from blossoms in my yard including lilac, dandelion, red bud, apple blossom, day lily, white clover, elderflower, red clover, violet, rose, peony, nasturtium, forsythia and honeysuckle. You can find links to all of these edible flower jelly recipes in this article here.

Information about Bee Balm

Bee balm also known as wild bergamot or Oswego tea, is a vibrant, clump-forming native North American perennial to the mint family. Known for its distinctive, ragged-looking flowerheads, this plant is a great pollinator which attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Once established, it will continue to spread and return year after year.

There are roughly 15 to 20 wild species of bee balm native to North America.

The main varieties of Bee Balm are: 

Scarlet Bee Balm : brilliant red blooms.
Wild Bergamot: lavender or pink flowers.
Spotted Bee Balm: yellowish tubular flowers spotted with purple, resting above pinkish-white bracts.

When crushed, the leaves and flowers release anaromatic, spicy oil with notes of mint, citrus, and oregano. This intense scent makes the plant naturally deer and rabbit resistant. Both the flowers and leaves are edible. The leaves and flowers possess a savory, spicy taste profiles resembling a blend of mint, thyme, and oregano.

Health Benefits of Bee Balm

Bee balm is known for its high thymol content, a compound with strong antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It also contains other beneficial compounds like carvacrol, eugenol, and linalool, which contribute to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Traditionally used for respiratory issues, bee balm helps relieve congestion and cough when taken as a tea or inhaled in steam form. It acts as a carminative for digestive discomfort, easing gas, bloating, and mild stomach upset. Applied topically, it supports wound healing and helps treat fungal infections.

Its mild calming effects make it useful for nervous tension, and a strong infusion can be used as a natural mouthwash for sore throats, gum issues, and mouth sores. Modern studies support many of these traditional uses, confirming its value in respiratory, digestive, and dermatological care.

Ingredients for Bee Balm Jelly Recipe

• 2 to 4 cups Bee Balm Petals
• 4 cups Boiling Water
• 1 package Powdered Pectin (such as Sure Jell)
• 2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 4 cups Sugar

Basic Steps For Making Bee Balm Jelly

• Pick or cut the Bee Balm blossoms
• Separate the petals from the flower and add to a bowl or quart jar
• Add 4 cups boiling water to the flowers
• Place in refrigerator for 24 hours
• Strain the petals from the liquid
• Add liquid to the pot and bring to a boil
• Next add lemon juice and powdered pectin, bring to a boil for one minute, and stir continuously
• Add 4 cups of sugar, stir to dissolve, and boil for 1 to 2 minutes
• Ladle the jelly into canning jars and water bath can for 10 minutes

Detailed Instructions for Making Bee Balm Jelly

Pick or cut the Bee Balm blossoms.

Separate the petals from the flower separating out all the green parts until 2 to 4 cups are obtained. The green parts would add a bitter taste to the jelly.

Add the petals to a large bowl or quart mason jar.

Pour four cups of boiling water over the flowers.

Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the Bee Balm water infusion to make it more acidic. For best results, I think that adding the lemon juice at this stage brings out the color, which is demonstrated by the picture below. After adding the lemon juice the Bee Balm infusion immediately turned orange. Fresh lemon juice can be used or bottled lemon juice.

Let the Bee Balm infusion cool to room temperature, the color gets deeper.

After it cools to room temperature, place the Bee Balm infusion in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The color got even deeper after the 24 hours.

The next day, strain the petals from the tea using a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or coffee filter. You should have about 4 cups of the Bee Balm liquid.

Add the Bee Balm tea to a large pot or medium saucepan and and heat to bring to a boil. Then, add a package of powdered pectin. Stir it to dissolve the pectin. Heat on medium-high heat and bring to a boil for one minute, and stir continuously.

Add 4 cups of sugar slowly to the Bee Balm jelly mixture and stir to dissolve. Bring to a boil for 1 to 2 minutes.

Turn off the heat and ladle jelly into the canning jars. I used 5 half pint jars or commonly called jelly jars.

Enjoy!

Enjoy the beautiful Queen Anne´s Lace jelly with the floral sweet flavor.

It is so fun to make delicious floral jellies from different edible flowers, and so fun for kids also. The different jellies make great gifts!

See my website at www.HawkPointHomestead.com for more flower jellies including my dandelion jelly recipe, redbud jelly recipe, lilac jelly recipe, peony jelly red clover jelly and apple blossom recipe. I

Also for my canning recipes and other favorite great recipes, plus posts about other homestead-type activities, such as gardening and raising chickens.

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