Saturday, July 12, 2008

Lemongrass Tea


These are the lemongrass plants growing profusely in pots of my balcony 'garden'. This fragrant plant is easy to grow, I have more than enough that I need for everyday cooking. I often share with family and friends several stalks at a time or else, the pots would not be able to hold all the leaves!

I am happy I have this plant so that I can easily get them fresh. Most of what are available in the market are already dried ones. They do not lose their flavor though, so even the dried lemongrass can still be used for cooking.

Usually, we use the stalk, the white part near the root (where there is more concentration of the citrusy smell) as flavoring for cooking soups, curries or stews. It is used for stuffing roast chicken, for pounding into sauces. What about the leaves? Sometimes, we include those into cooking as well. But more often than not, we infuse the leaves into tea.

It is very simple actually. I use 10 leaves, cut them up into 2 to 3 inches. Wash them well and boil them in a liter of water. The resulting liquid is very fragrant, rich lemon gold in color, very refreshing!



You can drink it hot or cold. (I prefer it hot, no sugar added.) You can drink it as is, or add a simple sugar syrup, or add a sugar substitute such as stevia, if preferred.

To make sugar syrup, just boil 1 cup water with 1 cup whit sugar until sugar is melted and the liquid turns a little syrupy consistency. Add to any of your preferred drinks.

Last week, a friend forwarded to me an email citing a study done by the Ben Gurion University at Negev, Israel. The study shows lemongrass can be a cure for cancer. Read the full transcript here. The study says that lemongrass contains "citral" the component that gives lemongrass its citrusy scent and aroma; and that this component causes the cancer cells in our body to die. The cancer cells die while the healthy cells live, thus helping the cancer patient to be healed.

Hubby and I tend to believe that the anti-cancer properties of the lemongrass is true, not just because of the testimonies of many people but because we believe that God has indeed gifted us many natural herbs and medicines that can be found in nature, in plants. Further studies are being conducted to confirm this initial findings. Meanwhile, we can enjoy this delicious, refreshing lemony tea that may have healing effects on our bodies as well.



This is my entry to Grow Your Own, a twice-a-month blogging event that celebrates the foods we grow or raise ourselves and the dishes we make using our homegrown products. This event is launched and hosted by Andrea of Andrea's Recipes. Please check out her blog after the 15th to see the delicious round-ups.

22 comments:

Andrea Meyers (Grow Your Own) said...

I never knew that lemongrass leaves could be used in teas, I've always just used the white part in curries and such. Thanks for a very informative post for Grow Your Own!

jadepmen said...

Can u use the white part to boil and drink instead of the leaves? I am living here in US and mostly the lemon grass i bought from the Oriental store the leaves has been cut and has only the white part.

Unknown said...

I would like to know the same thing. I already used the lemongrass stalks that I purchased at a local store as a tea, so I guess it works, but I wanted to be sure. If you have an answer that would be great. Thank you, Jennifer

Anonymous said...

very close friend's husband had cancer, and looked AWFUL. I thought for sure she would loose him shortly. Lemongrass tea, according to her saved his life. When I saw him walking in the neighborhood, he looked twenty years younger and vital, rosy cheeks, clear skin... do you think it could clear semi clogged arteries, full from the rich American diet?

Anonymous said...

FYI -every lemongrass tea receipe I have found says to cut up the white stalk and use that to make tea. This is the only one I found that mentions using the leaves, so yes, I guess you can use either the stalk or the leaves. Not to worry if you can't find any in the market with leaves attached. Also - I live in Africa, and we use lemon grass here to ring our gardens - snakes don't like it, and it helps to keep them out of the yard.

mofidi said...

I am a farmer in Sierra Meone on a bio basis and need to look for a market to sell my product for medicinal application

mofidi said...

I am a farmer in Sierra Meone on a bio basis and need to look for a market to sell my product for medicinal application

Anonymous said...

We love lemongrass plants!!!!... We have several lemongrass plants in our backyard in the USA. They come back every year and multiply more. We have ginger plants growing as lemongrasses' sisters. We make teas and cook lemongrass in several dishes. They aid your stomach gas pains, colon cleanser, steam sauna inducing fat diet... beside cancer cure, body detoxification. You can use green / white parts even roots. They are all good for you, we never leave any out. Lemongrass plants are also your pets' antidotes when they are terribly sick with food poison

Anonymous said...

I make a pitcher of lemongrass, mint, lemon balm and lemon verbena tea every week. I slice up the lemongrass stalk and add the leaves as well. Add all the herbs to boiling water, turn it off and let it steep for a couple of hours. Great cold with a mint simple syrup.

buy generic viagra said...

Lemon Grass is really a helpful and great herb. Thanks for sharing this information.

Joanne said...

I guess I am the lazy one since I just buy my lemongrass tea already made for me. I do have to say that I love the taste and smell of lemongrass tea. I add a little chamomile and sugar and it' just heaven. Thank you for the write up by the way.

Anonymous said...

I do drink lemongrass tea.

Your article is very informative and could encourage those who wanted to have prevention before sickness sets in.

God is so good that He prepared everything for us even before the creation of men.

viagra online said...

I've been investigating and the Lemon grass is also known as Gavati Chaha and I've got a similar specie at my garden... by the way it'd be nice if you can add others updates about this line. 2j3j

Unknown said...

It is so wonderful. I drink almost every day.Thank you for giving all these guidance.It is very good. I started to plant lemongrass in my garden. I am from Sei Lanka. Thougth we have plenty inour ountry they do not use it. Thank you.
Sarojini Senanayake

Dee said...

I have been drinking lemongrass tea, as is, no sugar/honey added. I harvest the leaves, place in blender with a cup of boiled water and give it a good whizz, then allow it to steep for a number of hours. It is refreshing, hot or cold. BTW, it's winter here in South Africa, so I'm counting on this brew to help keep me healthy.

Jasmine Green Tea said...

How cool is that, having a lemongrass in your garden, you can have anytime you want to have a lemongrass tea. But I must admit I've never have lemongrass tea before, and as tea lover, this is something that I gotta try. Thanks

Anonymous said...

We have been drinking lemongrass hot tea in the morning and before bedtime, and lemongrass iced tea in the afternoons. it jas relly amazing effects in our health. I 'got my 4-year old daughter drink it too and she loves it///

Unknown said...

Vicky Charlton, gaborone Botswana

I drink lemongrass tea every morning and every evening. Its refreshing and detoxing! I have it in my gardern and I love the smell! Try it with mint so delicious!

Unknown said...

What I like about a tea is its aroma. It smells so delicious.

dolshyne said...

thanks for your blog lemongrass mint tea

Anonymous said...

Thank You for the blog.
Lemongrass mint tea

Elroy Batts said...

Very Informative content on lemongrass Thank you for the article!

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