Is Lemon Grass Plant Edible?

Lemongrass is commonly used to add flavor and aroma to food. However, it is typically the stalk which is most often utilized and edible. Since the stalks are somewhat hard, they’re normally crushed in order to allow the lemony flavor to come through when cooking.

Can you eat lemongrass plants?

Lemongrass is a popular herb for cooking and it is used in a wide range of food recipes. It’s common in Asian foods and found most often in Thai cuisine. Since it is rather fibrous and can even be woody, it’s best when finely minced. Similar to bay leaves, if you use larger pieces, remove them before serving.

How do I know if my lemongrass is edible?

Only the tender part of the bottom third–a tightly packed bulb–of the lemongrass is edible. This part can be sliced or pounded after the tough outer leaves or layers are removed. Once the fibrous inner stem is finely, finely sliced, you can add it raw to salads.

What type of lemongrass is edible?

Though the tough stalk is inedible, its flavor is without substitute. Two varieties are commonly found in nurseries: West Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and East Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus). Both can be used for cooking, but the thicker West Indian variety is better.

Is lemongrass plant toxic to humans?

Lemongrass is LIKELY SAFE for most people when used in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth, applied to the skin, or inhaled as aromatherapy short-term for medicinal purposes. Rarely, lemongrass oil might cause a rash of skin irritation when applied to the skin.

How do you prepare lemongrass to eat?

You should always trim the base of the lemongrass stalks and peel and discard the hard outer layers. To use the lemongrass whole in stews, broths or drinks, crush the stalk with the back of a knife to release its flavor. You can also finely slice it into rings and add it to marinades, soups, or stir-fries.

What do you do with lemongrass plants?

To use lemongrass in cooking, remove outer leaves and cut off the roots of the lemongrass.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use lemongrass:

1. Lemongrass Tea Wreaths – make the leaves into bundles and make tea.
2. Soups, such as Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Coconut Soup)
3. Jasmine Rice with Ginger and Lemongrass.

Which lemongrass is not edible?

Cymbopogon citratus
Lemon grass oil is extracted from lemon grass and the inedible type of lemon grass commonly referred to as citronella grass.

How do I prepare fresh lemongrass?

Simply make several superficial cuts along the length of the stalk with your serrated knife. Then, holding the lemongrass at either end, gently bend it several times to “bruise” it. This will release the fragrance and flavor. Now throw the stalk into your soup or curry pot.

Can you use the green part of lemongrass?

Only use the bottom white portion of lemongrass. The dark green portion of the stalks can be cut off. (My instinct is always to use them when making stock, but they don’t impart much flavor.)

Can I drink lemongrass tea everyday?

There isn’t enough research on lemongrass tea to recommend a standard dosage for any condition. For dosing recommendations, consult your doctor or a qualified natural health practitioner. To limit your risk of side effects, start with one cup daily. If you tolerate this well, you can drink more.

Does lemongrass have side effects?

Common side effects of lemongrass include: Allergic reactions (topical use) Increased amylase. Increased bilirubin.

What happens if you drink too much lemongrass tea?

Lemongrass tea may cause allergies for people who are allergic to lemongrass plants. Don’t drink this tea if you are allergic to lemongrass or citronella. Stop use immediately if you experience symptoms including throat swelling, difficulty breathing, and skin rash.

What can I do with fresh lemongrass?

Lemongrass is often finely chopped or pounded in order to break down the tough stalks. Once minced or pounded, lemongrass can be added to marinades or grilled meats for a touch of sweet citrusy flavor or used to brighten curry pastes and simple sauces. Powdered lemongrass works here too.

Does lemongrass come back every year?

Lemongrass roots are typically hardy in zones 8b and 9. With a frost blanket or heavy layer of straw mulch over the soil, the plant has a good chance of returning year after year (even when the leaves die back). What is this? Colder zones need to overwinter lemongrass indoors before the first frost hits.

When should I harvest lemongrass?

While you can harvest lemongrass pretty much at any time throughout its growing season, in cooler regions, it is normally harvested towards the end of the season, just before the first frost. Indoor plants can be harvested throughout the year.

Which part of the lemongrass do you use?

To use lemongrass in marinades, stir-fries, salads, spice rubs, and curry pastes, trim the top and base of the stalks—you want to use only the bottom 4 inches or so. Then peel off any dry or tough outer layers before finely chopping or mincing.

Does lemongrass keep mosquitoes away?

In any case, citronella and lemongrass are used extensively as a natural mosquito repellent. Both of them contain the compound citronella that helps to mask the scents that mosquitoes rely on to target hosts which is carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

Will planting lemon grass keep mosquitoes away?

Answer: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Lemongrass contains citronella, a natural oil that repels mosquitoes. It is an ornamental grass that reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in one growing season.

Is lemongrass tea good for the liver?

The citric acid content in lemons is remarkably high, aiding in purifying the liver. Consuming lemongrass tea on an empty stomach in the morning assists in getting rid of all the wastes and toxins accumulated in the liver and thereby detoxifies the body completely.

What’s the white part of lemongrass?

It is the bulb section, (the paler,fleshier part) that is used. The leaves however can be boiled to give aroma to soups, curries etc. The stalk will last for several days in the fridge or can be chopped and frozen for later use. In aromatherapy, lemongrass essential oil is a toning, revitalizing, and antiseptic herb.