Me, Melissa

Milouin invites the new protagonist of your “Me, product” section. A playful text in which a product or a living material is told in the first person in an impertinent, funny and poetic tone. Me, product.

Looking at me, one would not imagine the number of beneficial properties that I have to offer. From the same family as mint, I am a plant with stems up to 80 cm and is adorned with small bright green, crinkled and serrated leaves that give off a sweet lemony scent.

Originally from the Mediterranean basin, I grow very easily in the shade as well as in the sun. And for the poetic note, my Greek name, Mélissa, means bee. Which explains why I am a bee plant. But I don't just provide the bees with nectar, I am also a real source of benefits for your body. When my leaves are consumed in herbal tea, I relieve digestive disorders, soothe liver-related pain, calm states of nervousness. I remain one of the best natural means of relaxation. My essential oil even promotes healing.

In the kitchen, I'm not doing badly either. I flavor almost everything: meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, sweet, savory... I bring freshness to your dishes with a taste of lively citrus fruits, which mixes the acidity of lemon with a light taste of mint. I even go into the composition of alcohol like Chartreuse.

A true plant with multiple virtues, during these festive periods, I will be able to relieve your intestinal system and contribute to your digestive well-being, between the power of foie gras and the sweet treats at the end of a meal.
In the category "all-purpose plant" I climbed to first place.

Text: Sonia Ben Abdeslem
Illustration: Pascal Drai