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 there different types of lemongrass?
LemongrassLower classifications
Which lemongrass variety is best?
According to the Missouri Botanical Garden website, the best known cultivated variety is ornamental lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), which is prominently featured in Cambodian, Vietnamese and Thai cuisines. The plant lends a lemony aroma and flavor to soups, curries, teas and other beverages.
What is cymbopogon Flexuosus used for?
The plant is used as a fragrance and flavoring agent and in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, hypotensive, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiemetic, antitussive, antirheumatic, antiseptic and treatment for nervous and gastrointestinal disorders and fevers.
What is the English name for Cymbopogon citratus?
West Indian lemon grass
Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as West Indian lemon grass or simply lemon grass, is a tropical plant native to Maritime Southeast Asia and introduced to many tropical regions.
What are the two types of lemongrass?
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 Cymbopogon citratus edible?
Lemon grass, Cymbopogon citratus, has two culinary claims to fame. Its leaves are used to make a tea or flavor soups and the like. Yes, it tastes lemony. Its lower stalks can be chopped and also used as flavoring, or ground up for some pastes.
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.
What type of lemongrass is used for tea?
Cymbopogon citratus
The lemongrass plant is also commonly known as tanglad, barbed wire grass, citronella grass, and silky heads. The plant has many different species including citronella grass, but the species used for tea is largely Cymbopogon citratus.
How do you grow lemongrass thicker?
Lemongrass likes it hot, so grow it in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Space plants 24 inches apart. Kick off the growing season by mixing several inches aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.
What is cymbopogon Flexuosus oil?
The essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuosus or lemongrass oil (LO) is reported to have antibacterial, antifungal and anticancerous effects. HSP90 is one of the major chaperones responsible for the proper folding of cancer proteins.
What happens if you drink lemongrass tea everyday?
The results of a 2015 study suggest that drinking lemongrass tea infusions daily for 30 days can increase hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the body.
Is it OK to 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.
Is fever grass and lemon grass the same?
Lemon grass, which is also known as fever grass in Jamaica, is a plant that grows wild throughout the island and most tropical countries. It is known to have a wide variety of health benefits.
What is the side effect of lemon grass?
Rarely, lemongrass oil might cause a rash of skin irritation when applied to the skin. However, there have been some toxic side effects, such as lung problems after inhaling lemongrass and a fatal poisoning after a child swallowed a lemongrass oil-based insect repellent.
What is the benefits of lemon grass in the body?
Lemongrass is a rich source of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which contain antioxidants. It’s also an effective antibacterial and antifungal agent that contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Lemongrass contains quercetin, a flavonoid known for having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
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.
Can you eat raw lemon grass?
You can eat the whole lemongrass, including the stalk. However, the stalk itself is tough and hard to chew. For this reason, you may want to remove the stalk before consuming the raw lemongrass.
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.
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.)
What part of the lemongrass do you eat?
Though lemongrass stalks measure a foot long or more, almost all of the flavor is contained in the bottom 5 inches or so of the stalk. To get to that flavor, cut away the thinner top portion of the stalk and the very woody base.
Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. She has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton and The French Laundry.
What makes Marilyn stand out from other chefs is her unique approach to cooking. She believes that food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or dietary restrictions. Her recipes are simple, delicious, and healthy – perfect for anyone who wants to cook like a pro!