The leaves of the mandarina orange balm (Melissa officinalis) give off a mandarin scent when you simply touch their short down. Their downy texture allows them to be soaked in a crispy tempura batter. Like the nectar-rich flowers reminiscent of orange blossom, they are perfect for enhancing an exotic citrus cocktail or a fresh fruit salad. The mandarina orange balm is excellent as a pure infusion or mixed with all kinds of teas, liqueurs or alcohols. Related to and similar to mint, it can reseed spontaneously in the second half of summer, following a discreet flowering. Harvest it before the seeds, leaving a few layers of leaves for perenniality, and you will control it instantly, without risking invasion.