What does Five Bees Farm produce?

Five Bees Farm is establishing a regenerative agroforestry system to grow premium medicinal and culinary herbs on 17 acres in North Devon. We supply wholesale botanical ingredients to UK herbal supplement and nutraceutical manufacturers.

When will Five Bees Farm be operational?

Farm operations begin in 2026. First product availability is planned for 2027. We are currently in the establishment phase, developing our agroforestry system and infrastructure.

Is Five Bees Farm certified organic?

We are targeting Soil Association organic certification, with full conversion expected by 2028. We follow organic and regenerative principles from the outset, with zero synthetic inputs.

Where is Five Bees Farm located?

Five Bees Farm is located near Bideford in North Devon, England. Our postcode is EX39 5QZ.

What makes Five Bees Farm different from other herb suppliers?

We are one of very few farms in the UK establishing a dedicated agroforestry system for herbal production. This means our herbs grow in a biodiverse, tree-integrated environment without synthetic inputs. We offer full traceability from seed to shipment, a Soil Association organic certification pathway, and a genuinely regenerative supply chain — reducing UK manufacturers' dependence on imported botanicals.

British-Grown Dried Lemon Balm Leaf (Melissa officinalis) for Trade Buyers

We grow lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) near Woolsery, North Devon, and supply its dried leaf wholesale to UK businesses. Lemon balm is a lemon-scented perennial in the mint family, valued by tea blenders and formulators for its fresh citrus aroma and flavour.

Lemon balm at a glance

Common name: lemon balm, balm, melissa
Latin name: Melissa officinalis (family Lamiaceae)
Part supplied: leaf
Grown at: Five Bees Farm, near Woolsery, North Devon
Harvest: early to late summer, before flowering, with repeat cuts
Planned formats: whole leaf, cut & sifted
Organic status: working towards Soil Association certification (target 2028)

How we grow lemon balm

Lemon balm prefers well-drained soil, so we grow it in no-dig raised beds that lift its roots above our damp North Devon ground. Light shade from the neighbouring tree rows suits the plant and helps protect leaf colour. Beds are mulched with compost and on-farm woodchip, with zero synthetic inputs.

Harvest and handling

We cut lemon balm before it flowers, when the leaf is at its most aromatic, and take repeat cuts as the plants regrow. Harvests are made in dry conditions and handled gently, because the leaf bruises and darkens easily.

Drying and processing

Lemon balm’s aroma comes from volatile oils that are easily lost at high temperatures. We dry it in our on-farm drying barn at low temperatures with good airflow to keep the leaf green and fragrant, then pack it in sealed packaging away from light.

Formats for trade buyers

Whole dried lemon balm leaf
Cut & sifted lemon balm (planned)

Who buys our lemon balm

British-grown lemon balm suits herbal tea and botanical drinks brands, herbalists and tincture makers, natural skincare makers, pet and equine supplement makers, and herb wholesalers.

Provenance and traceability

All Five Bees lemon balm is grown and dried on a single farm in North Devon. Each batch is coded to the bed it came from, with its harvest date and drying record.

Lemon balm FAQs

How do you keep the lemon aroma in dried lemon balm?

By cutting before flowering, getting the leaf to the drying barn quickly, drying at low temperatures, and packing it in sealed packaging away from light.

When will lemon balm be available?

First harvests for trade buyers are planned for 2028. Register your interest now and we’ll keep you updated.

Request a lemon balm sample

Email hello@fivebeesfarm.co.uk to register interest in UK-grown dried lemon balm or to discuss future volumes.