Did You Know That Lemongrass Has Many Other Uses, Other Than In A Thai Curry ?
- Botanical Name : Cymbopogon
- Also Known As : Ginger grass, Citronella Grass, Serai.
- What Is Lemongrass ? A stalky Herb.
- Commonly Used In : Savoury/Sweet foods, Soap, & Insect Repellent.
- Medicinal Uses : Pain- relieving benefits, Reduces cancer risk, & has Anti-biofilm properties.
- Origin : Native of Tropical Regions.
- What It Tastes Like ? Fresh, Citrusy, Earthy, Leafy
What Is Lemongrass ?
Lemongrass or Citronella grass is a tropical plant native to southeast Asia. This plant grows in clusters and its leaves are long, stalky , and fans out similar to a spider plant.
Common Uses For Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asia. It is crushed and ground using a pestle and mortar along with galangal, ginger, chillies , and garlic to make a curry paste.
It can also be used to infuse rice, cakes and drunk as tea. It has citrusy and fresh taste with a cooling effect.
The History Behind Lemongrass
The history behind lemongrass goes back thousands of years. During the 10 century in China, the leaves were used as an insect repellent. In the Middle Ages, lemongrass made its way through Europe and was used to flavour wine. By the 19th century, lemongrass was being cultivated in India. Lemongrass oil has since been used in soap, perfumes, hair oils, insect repellent, and in anti-inflammatory medication.
Popular Lemongrass Recipes
Lemongrass is popular in Thai, Indonesian, and Philippine cuisine.