Lemongrass oil is an essential oil made from lemongrass leaves with many benefits and uses. It’s used in aromatherapy for health and beauty too. https://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2014/06/lemongrass-tea-recipe.html stomach diseases such as stomach ache, constipation, cramps, and diarrhea. Make sure you strain the beverage as the leaves are too fibrous to chew. After that, the rest is yours, starts from the leaves until the stalk. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, properties are considered beneficial for health. Lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus), also known as lemongrass or capim-santo, is a tropical plant native to India.Much appreciated as tea, it is also used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. It is considered for a stronger flavor before serving. 1 Lemongrass essential oil comes from lemongrass plants, which smell similar to lemon plants, and are part of the Poaceae family, which contains more than 50 different varieties of plant. Also dry lemongrass can be ground and used as a spice. Last updated on December 9, 2020 by Prateek 0 Comment Share Tweet on Twitter Share on Facebook Pinterest. How to use lemongrass essential oil Diffusion. Chop the lemongrass on a cutting board so you don't dull your knife blade or damage your countertop! The kaffir lime leaf is essential to Thai curries and soups, but many… Lemongrass tea: This is the perfect way to use the parts of the lemongrass plant that is not flavorful enough for cooking. There are numerous recipes you can follow to use lemongrass to add flavor to dishes, which usually involve slicing up of crushing the stalks. To dilute the lemongrass essential oil, use 10-15 drops of essential oil for every 250 ml of vegetable oil. The pieces should be about 1 ⁄ 2 –1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) long. In this article, I'll briefly explain the plant it comes from, and then I'm going to show you 13 simple ways that you can use your bottle of Lemongrass essential oil, and benefit from its amazing properties. Use whole lemongrass in stews and curries (remember to fish it out before serving). How To Cook With Lemongrass? The study found that the essential oil of lemongrass leaves can help protect the stomach lining against damage from aspirin and ethanol. This herb is used in various Asian cuisines as a flavouring agent due to its potent flavour. The essential oil extracted from its leaves, rich in citral, has several industrial uses. Lemon and grass. The leaves can be used either fresh or dried. It is an aromatherapy top note and with that, uplifting in nature and bright in blends. Since the stalks are somewhat hard, they’re normally crushed in order to allow the lemony flavor to come through when cooking. Like citrus juice, the flavor of lemongrass is great for neutralizing the fishy flavor that some people find objectionable. Lemongrass is an evergreen in climates in which it grows as a perennial. Use lemongrass in the diet to speed up your memory. The flavorful part of lemongrass is the lower part of the stalks, and it is usually sold with the leaves and upper stalks removed. It is lemon grass that gives the Thai curry its unique fresh lemon flavour. Prepare the lemongrass leaves. You can also use a lemongrass stem in a cocktail, use as a skewer for barbecued pork or prawn mince, or stuff the leaves inside a fish before steaming or a chicken before roasting. I love Lemongrass essential oil. Overview Information Lemongrass is a plant. This flavorful lemongrass marinade is common in Vietnam, where it's used on thin pork chops that are quickly grilled over a hot fire. Other uses are for calming moods and anxiety when used in a diffuser because of the effect of its aroma. Health Benefits of Lemongrass. As soon as you cut through the lemongrass, you can feel the warm tingling lemon aroma hitting your senses. Stalks that are light or rubbery are older stalks, which will not provide the flavor you’re expecting. Instead, look for heavy stalks with a firm texture. If you cultivate it indoors in northern growing zones, you will have a permanently green ornamental, but if you're only interested in its culinary uses, you can grow it outdoors in the late spring and summer and harvest the leaves before the frost sets in. If you don't have a lemongrass plant, you can purchase the leaves fresh or dried from some health food stores. They get a bit of morning sun, even though it is advocated you grasp them out of direct sunlight. Look for lemongrass that is firm and pale yellow-green with a bit of a bulb at the end. This woody and fragrant herb can also be used as a cocktail recipe for a couple of cups or as a basis for an ordinary exotic ice cream lemonade. Bruise them by giving them a slight twist or pound and cut it into manageable pieces with kitchen scissors to steep in tea. Lemongrass can grow 3-5 feet tall (1-1.5 meters) and can spread to 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. As the name implies, lemongrass smells like lemon, but it tastes milder and sweeter. You can use it to gently massage the temples and the neck area, always using it diluted in a base oil. Lemongrass leaves can be used just like the stalks. That is the place you have in the house to hang all the herbs. It is also found in the form of dry lemongrass or ground lemongrass. Remember that you will usually just need one stalk from the entire plant. You can now puree, mince, or chop the bottom part of the lemongrass. Lemongrass tea is delicious hot or iced. If you're using home-grown lemongrass, you can use the leaves to make the tea. … You can make use of both lemongrass leaves and its stalk. There is an outer skin on the stalks. However, this is not to say that the top parts don’t carry any purpose. Only the tender part inside is considered edible, so once it’s cooked, it can be sliced and added to various dishes. The leaves of this lovely herb can be used for herbal teas and marinades, while the inner stalks would be used in Asian dishes. My Mom (who’s thai) taught me about growing lemongrass. The plant has long leaves that are similar to those of seagrasses. The leaves and the oil are used to make medicine. Its leaves are used to make a herbal tea that provides plenty of vitamin A. Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) originates in Indonesia on Java Island. The leaves are the part of the plant used to make lemongrass tea. Lemongrass oil, derived from the leaves of the lemongrass plant, carries a recognizable and soothing scent. Depending on how you intend to use it, you can cut the lemongrass stalk in two ways. Lemongrass is part of the citrus oils family. Cut the outer leaves and top part of the lemongrass.You’ll only need the bottom part for cooking. If you have your very own plant, all you need is one stalk for this recipe. Constipation: Lemongrass tea is considered beneficial for stomach problems. This oil is safe and good for dogs and cats to repel insects. Lemongrass, also called fever grass, is a perennial plant with thin, long leaves that are indigenous to many Asian countries. You must cut that lower part in about 2 inches from the end. Regular aspirin use is a common cause of gastric ulcers. Steep a few pieces (cut into 1- or 2-inch lengths) of the fresh or dried leaves and/or outer woody stalks in a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes, or longer if you desire a stronger brew. Its medicinal properties are febrifuge (fever reducing), astringent, carminative (helpful for gas and stomach issues), antibacterial, and can support the alleviation of headaches. How to Use Lemongrass Essential Oil. Due to the presence of anti-oxidant properties, it can protect against . You can cut above the roots and the plant will sprout new leaves. Lemongrass stalks are referred to as culms. Then, carefully give the lemongrass a rough chop. Chop and use to make marinades and soups or add to stir-fries. include about 55 species, some of which contain essential oils that give the plants a flavor and scent similar to citrus fruit.Probably the most well-known species is west Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), which is used in food as well as an ingredient in insect repellents.West Indian lemon grass doesn't repel rodents, but it has several effects on them. Step 2 - Optional: Dry the Leaves . Lemongrass stalks can be lightly crushed and added to dishes such as curry during cooking; these are always removed before serving. Pick one stalk to harvest and hold it firmly, preferably closer to its roots. Its leaves produce the best-quality essential oil than any other lemongrass species, which is used in the manufacture of cosmetics and fragrances. However, finely sliced fresh leaves can be used for garnish. Add honey or sugar to taste. And lemongrass tea is a way you can try. Cut into small pieces or depend on the dish. Use as a flavouring for crème brulee or steep a stalk in a bottle of vodka for cocktails (clean and bruise a lemongrass stalk, then put it in a nearly full bottle of vodka for 3-4 days, shaking occasionally; then remove the stalks). Many use the stalks alone, but the leaves hold more flavor so use the whole grass minus the roots. Lemongrass Varieties. 4. This fragrant and attractive grass will thrive in a large pot as well as in the ground in a sunny position. If you're planting in soil, make sure it is fertile and well drained – water well. That would be enough for almost anything you need with more to spare. You can use the green leaves for cooking as well. Chef Katie Chin demonstrates how to prepare Lemon Grass for using in sauces, soups and stir fry to get that amazing flavor. Here’s how to harvest lemongrass and its uses. Lemongrass is fresh in hypermarkets or big stores. It is used in many hair products for hair growth and in skincare products because of its antibacterial property. While the stalks are the most commonly used part of the plant, the leaves are also edible. The leaves and stalks are used to make lemongrass tea. You string lemongrass leaves up in a window with wire to dry for tea. Lemongrass is commonly used to add flavor and aroma to food. Do use lemongrass to complement seafood. 3. Cut the green portion of the leaves from a your lemongrass plant using a pair of sharp scissors. The leaves are generally inedible and, like lemongrass stalks or cinnamon sticks, are fished out of soups and curries before serving. You can use them to make tea or bag up to use in marinades. How To Use Lemongrass | Organic Facts. You can use the entire part of lemongrass, except for the lower bulb. The stalks are a greenish-white color and form the part of lemongrass plant most often used in Asian dishes, though the leaves are also used – especially for making lemongrass tea. Some people cut the stalk in larger pieces and not to be eaten. Some Culinary Uses of Lemongrass East Asian cuisines use lemongrass leaves in a variety of ways – fresh chopped stems, dried herb as a spice, or the leaf buds. When the leaves have dried, you reduce them into a 2-3-inch portion and save them in a hermetic glass jar. However, it is typically the stalk which is most often utilized and edible. Though lemongrass is best used when fresh, it also freezes well and can be stored this way for up to six months. While an estimated 55 species of lemongrass exist, only the East Indian and West Indian varieties are suitable for use in cooking. 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