Lemongrass

Lemongrass or Cymbopogon (Cymbopogon) belongs to plants of the Cereal family, but it is also called lemongrass. Refers to perennial and evergreen plants. As a wild herb, it grows in the tropics or subtropics. Belongs to the bluegrass family.

Titles in other languages:

• lat. Cymbopogon citrus;
• German Westindisches Zitronengras, Lemongrass;
• English Citrongrass.

Lemongrass grows best in warmer areas. In the tropics, plant height can reach up to 1.8 m, but in regions with a cooler climate - 1 m and no more. He loves sunlight, but is tolerant of a little shade, but he is afraid of the cold. He likes sand more. Because of the love of moisture, the plant can often be seen in marshy places.

The root system of the plant is so powerful that the soil is very quickly depleted. The leaves have an elongated long shape and a light green color. Lemongrass grows in bunches. It can be grown in a garden, greenhouse or pot. In these cases, it will have an exclusively decorative role. A subtle citrus aroma comes from the leaves and stem.

Lemongrass has over fifty species. Basically, they can be found in India and Sri Lanka. But the regions of Africa, China and America are also popular.

You can find out more in our articles: lemongrass and citronella.

It is not very clear where the cymbopogon comes from, but it tolerates the climate of the tropics and subtropics best of all, therefore it grows in Western India, as well as hot American, African and Asian regions.

In Africa, it is actively grown in areas that the tsetse fly has chosen, as it cannot stand the smell of this herb.

Among the species are West Indian lemongrass (from Malaysia) and East Indian lemongrass, which is called "East Indian lemongrass" (from India and Sri Lanka).

The flowering of grass depends on where it grows. For example, in Russia there is no flowering of lemongrass. Its leaves can be cut as needed or before cold weather. The same is done with the bases of rosettes of plants, which are often used in the preparation of various dishes.

Literally freshly cut lemongrass leaves are laid out in a small layer in a room with good ventilation, where the sun's rays do not fall. The bases of the rosettes of the plant are often used instead of vegetables, so they are wrapped in foil and put in the refrigerator, where they can lie for up to several weeks.

The plant has a delicate lemon aroma and a corresponding taste. Its scent is used against mosquitoes and other insects that cannot tolerate it. If lemongrass juice is applied to the skin, mosquitoes will not approach for up to several hours.

The table shows the content of nutrients in 100 grams of the edible part of the product

Lemograss can be divided into the following chemical constituents:

• citral;
• category B vitamins;
• beta carotene;
• useful micro and macro elements.

Citral is responsible just for the appropriate lemon smell and taste.

The micro and macro elements contained in lemongrass are zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and many others.

Parts of lemongrass used include:

• stem,
• leaves,
• outlet base.

Table of vitamins and minerals in 100 grams of raw lemongrass

The energy value of 100 grams of raw lemongrass is 99 kcal.

High quality lemongrass can be easily identified by:

• leaf smoothness;
• uniform green leaf color;
• subtle lemon flavor.

While lemongrass, it is recommended to put it in the refrigerator. To do this, it is first thoroughly washed with cool water, then dried and placed in a container with a tight-fitting lid. If these requirements are strictly observed, then the plant will be able to maintain freshness for up to several weeks. At the same time, it will not spread its smell to other food in the refrigerator.

Stems can be frozen. Then all useful properties will be preserved for 3-4 months. The dried and chopped stems and leaves of the plant will be stored for the same amount. It is recommended to pour them into a glass jar with an airtight lid, and put the container in a dark and cool place where moisture and sunlight are excluded.

The list of useful properties of lemongrass is quite extensive:

• Increases the speed of the digestive system, it is actively used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and flatulence.
• Accelerates the metabolism in the body.
• Helps reduce high body temperature in colds.
• Essential oils from lemongrass are used in aromatherapy as antidepressants.
• The plant is actively used against sleep disorders and stress.
• Due to its powerful antiseptic, disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties, lemongrass helps treat respiratory diseases, relieve muscle pain, tone the body, improve metabolism and blood circulation, treat skin diseases, cellulite, relieve nausea, weakness and depression.
• When using cymbopogon according to the correct recipes, the body will have an antifungal, astringent, healing, calming effect.
• Lemongrass essential oils have natural antiseptic properties. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and improve epithelialization.
• Fatty acids and trace elements in the composition are invaluably useful for the human body.
• Folk remedies made from lemongrass will help with fungal diseases and dermatitis, and will also promote wound healing.
• The plant helps to improve lactation, increase muscle endurance, strengthen blood vessels and stimulate blood circulation.
• An extract from the stems of the plant is added to medicines for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as well as for varicose veins.
• Everyone knows the impressive effect of cymbopogon as an antidepressant. It allows you to reduce fatigue, bring a person into tone.
• The plant is often used to increase concentration, improve memory and mental activity.Experts advise using lemongrass essential oil as a natural car interior fragrance. It will increase attentiveness and improve the speed of response to various situations.

The use of lemongrass has a number of some contraindications:

• It is not recommended to use the plant in cooking if you have a personal intolerance to its components.
• Use lemongrass-based medicines and cosmetics with caution, test them before use.
• If you have dry skin type, do not apply these essential oils to it. They will dry out the skin even more.
• Essential oil is also contraindicated during pregnancy.
• If you are taking tonics that include cymbopogon, do not treat for more than 2 weeks. It is better to interrupt for a while, and then continue the course again.
• For people with hypertension, high excitability and preschool children, preparations containing lemongrass are contraindicated.

It is not recommended to carry out aromatherapy with the essential oils of the plant if you are engaged in professional activities in which your voice is involved. Hoarseness, tickling, and contraction of the vocal cords may occur.

Lemongrass has an unforgettable aroma that is skillfully used in Asian dishes. The main use is in the form of a spice, for example, in the preparation of soup or stewing various dishes. It makes a wonderful combination with herbs and pepper. The plant is also used in cooking in the preparation of desserts. Only the lower part of the stem is used, and the leaves are cut off.

Features of use in cooking:

• Both dried and fresh stems are often used in various dishes, either chopped or whole. But since the stems of lemongrass are very tough, they must either be rubbed or crushed. This is not always convenient, but the benefits are absolutely obvious.
• It is added to almost everything: meat, seafood, soups, stews, etc. Cymbopogon has found its active use in the most popular Thai dishes.
• To bring out the aroma of the plant, the petioles are usually beaten off with a knife handle before use.
• We can say that the basis of spices in Asian cuisine is crushed and dried lemongrass. But it is actively used in fresh form. Usually, when preparing a dish, the stems are laid in their entirety, and when they are ready, they are removed. You can’t just eat them like that, they are very tough. It happens that a fresh plant is ground into a paste and added to the dish at the end. The national Thai soup just uses spices with the addition of lemongrass. It can be added to sauces, marinades and even drinks.
• Lemongrass tea has an anti-inflammatory effect and a pleasant taste.
• The plant is suitable for fish, meat, vegetables, adding piquancy to ready-made dishes.
• It is customary to add cymbopogon even to sweets, as it gives them unprecedented notes of taste.
• Chilled lemongrass and clove tea is incredibly tasty and perfectly quenches thirst and refreshes on a hot summer day.

Ingredients for four servings:

• Coconut milk - 400 ml.
• Chicken broth - 400 ml.
• Ginger root - about 5 cm.
• Chicken fillet - 2 pcs.
• Shiitake mushrooms or champignons - 6 pcs.
• Red chili pepper - 1 pc.
• Fish sauce - 4 tbsp. spoons
• Cane sugar - 1 tbsp. a spoon
• cilantro - 1 bunch
• Lime - 1 pc.

Cooking process:

We heat the chicken broth in a saucepan, add the finely grated ginger and lemongrass stalks. Add coconut milk and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes. Add diced chicken fillet, and seafood lovers can also add shrimp. We also put chopped mushrooms, chopped chili peppers, cane sugar and fish sauce in a saucepan. Cook for another 7-8 minutes. From the finished soup, remove the stems of cymbopogon, add the juice of one lime and chopped cilantro. Enjoy your meal!

Ingredients for four servings:

• Tiger prawns - 500 gr.
• Lemongrass - 1 stem
• Green onions - 3-4 feathers
• Mint and cilantro, one bunch each
• Ground chili pepper - 0.5 tsp.
• Lime - 2 pcs.
• Olive oil - 2 tbsp. spoons

Cooking process:

Boil shrimp, peel and cool. Slice the lemongrass stalk as thinly as possible. Chop cilantro, green onion and mint, combine with lemongrass and season with pepper, lime juice and oil. Mix everything gently, then add the shrimp and mix again. Salad ready!

Ingredients:

• Pineapple - 1 pc.
• Lemongrass - 3 stalks
• Anise (grains) - 0.5 tbsp. spoons
• Cane sugar - 1 tbsp. a spoon
• vanilla ice cream

Cooking process:

Divide the pineapple into two parts, cut out the core, peel, while trying to leave the top with leaves. Cut the lemongrass stalks in half. Insert three lemongrass stem halves horizontally into each pineapple half. Season the pineapple with aniseed and marinate for 1 hour. After an hour, sprinkle the pineapple with cane sugar and send it to the grill, fry on both sides until light golden brown.Add ice cream to the finished pineapple, garnish with mint and the dessert is ready!

Lemongrass is used in alternative medicine as infusions, teas, oils, creams and lotions. It has an effect on the following diseases:

• inflammation of the respiratory tract;
• colds;
• sore throat, sore throat, etc.;
• respiratory diseases and acute respiratory diseases;
• asthma;
• arterial hypotension;
• headaches and migraines;
• weakening of the walls of blood vessels;
• slow metabolism;
• memory impairment;
• drowsiness;
• fatigue;
• muscle weakness;
• lack of trace elements;
• low acidity of gastric juice;
• swelling in the intestines;
• intestinal parasites;
• pediculosis;
• scabies;
• acne
• fungus;
• lack of breast milk.

In pharmacies, lemongrass is sold in the form not only as an essential oil, but also as an alcohol tincture, which allows you to relieve tension, fatigue and stress. It also helps with colds and headaches.

An extract from the stems of the plant is added to medicines for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as well as for varicose veins. For medical purposes, you can use lemongrass in the form of:

• infusion;
• tinctures;
• juice.

The infusion is prepared very simply: a tablespoon of finely chopped leaves is poured into 200 ml of boiling water. Literally 5 minutes - and you can drink it. It has an interesting taste and invaluable benefits. Use it both cold and hot, but not more than 400 ml per day. If you add honey to the infusion, it will become even tastier and healthier. Also, the infusion is used in inhalation and gargling.

Lemongrass tincture is sold in pharmacies and used in the proportions indicated in the instructions. It relieves headaches, helps with coughs and runny nose. You can make a tincture at home.To do this, grind lemongrass stalks in a blender and add alcohol in equal proportions. The solution is infused in a cool dark place.

Lemongrass juice usually has external uses. It acts as a repellant, as insects do not tolerate its smell.. At the same time, the juice is very effective in reducing itching after bites.

Lemongrass is a powerful tool in the fight against excess weight. She helps:

• remove toxins;
• stimulate blood flow;
• suppress appetite;
• act as a means against cellulite, coupled with essential oils.

There are the following recipes used for weight loss:

• take tangerine and lemongrass essential oils 10 ml each and mix them in an aroma lamp. 15 minutes of aromatherapy twice a day will effectively suppress your appetite;
• Mix lemongrass, geranium and rosemary essential oils and add macadamia oil. Massage problem areas on the body using a few drops of the resulting mixture will reduce cellulite.

Use in cosmetology is quite common.

The benefits are as follows:

• cymbopogon is perfect for normal and oily skin care;
• helps with fungus and sweating of the feet;
• heals wounds and cuts;
• products with the addition of lemongrass oil help with skin diseases;
• products with the addition of cymbopogon oil help moisturize the skin and tighten pores.

You can add lemongrass essential oil to any cream or tonic. The skin will become more elastic, tightened. The skin tone will become smoother, and the oily sheen will disappear over time.

In household use, lemongrass essential oil allows you to:

• disinfect rooms, objects;
• repel a variety of insects and lice;
• rid pets of ticks and fleas;
• reduce itching and reduce redness after insect bites.

If you add a couple of drops of lemongrass essential oil to the water when washing floors, then you will not only disinfect the floors, but also give them a pleasant smell. Combining lemongrass oil with other oils with citrus, herbal or floral notes will set a very pleasant smell in the kitchen.

Lemongrass is also used for another purpose:

• as a fragrance;
• in food products;
• in the production of alcohol and other beverages;
• when isolating citral;
• when replacing oils of other plants.

Cymbopogon fragrance is often used in perfumes and cosmetics.

Lemongrass plants are best propagated by dividing plants that are already growing and well established. In early spring, cut off the stem from the parent plant and transplant it into a separate small pot with regular soil.

It can also be propagated by seeds.

The most favorable period for sowing seeds is from early January to early March. They are sown in moist soil for sowing, and then lightly sprinkled.

The seed container should always have high humidity, so you can put it in a plastic bag, and it in a room with a temperature of about 25 degrees. Seeds will begin to germinate in just a few days.

When growing lemongrass, transplant each plant into its own small pot. Planted lemongrass pots should be placed in a warm room with plenty of sunlight. After one and a half to two months, the plants are transplanted.

At home, lemongrass almost never blooms. But in August-September, several flowers may appear. They form inflorescences at the top of the plant.

Good thickets are obtained from cymbopogon, and if the plants are planted in beautiful pots, then interesting compositions can be made from them in combination with other flowers. You can arrange green basil and mint nearby.

If lemongrass grows in special containers or pots, then they need a lot of sun. Light shade from trees is acceptable. When summer begins and the air warms up, you can plant cymbopogon in the ground, but closer to the beginning of autumn, the plants must be hidden from the cold at night and transplanted again.

In relation to other plants, lemongrass behaves modestly, without affecting the roots of its neighbors. That is why it is also suitable for greenhouse cultivation.

Lemongrass should be grown in sandy soil with humus to allow it to accumulate moisture. The plant needs a lot of sun and moisture. If you are planting lemongrass in the ground, it would be nice if there was a body of water nearby, as lemongrass itself grows closer to swamps. If the plant is planted in a pot, then it needs drainage. If the window sill is cold, and the water stagnates for a long time, then the roots will gradually begin to rot. In the summer, lemongrass requires frequent watering.

While lemongrass is growing, it needs constant watering and spraying with water. If any leaves begin to wilt, cut them off. If during the hot period it grows on the veranda, then even before it gets colder, the plant must be hidden in heat. It needs clay soil suitable for potted plants. The diameter of the pot should be within 12-13 cm. You can transplant the flower pot into a larger pot if it grows noticeably.

The peak of constant growth of the plant falls on the period from May to October.And all this time it must be constantly watered. Soil moisture must always be maintained. But in the winter season, watering should be restrained, it is impossible to fill in the roots under any circumstances. At the peak of plant growth, periodically (once a month) use top dressing and fertilizer.

Lemongrass should be visible, but away from wind and drafts. In summer, you can put it on the veranda, but so that the wind does not blow on it. In order for the plant to feel comfortable in winter, a minimum temperature of 10 degrees must be observed. Humidity should be medium. If the apartment has a central heating system, then it is better to put the plant pot on a stand with water and pebbles.

Very often, cymbopogon is associated with magic. Some African peoples have a belief that if you plant lemongrass around your home, it will scare away snakes. They also gave the plant the name of Voodoo herb.

It is believed that lemongrass helps to awaken sexual desire and passion, so it is often used in the manufacture of certain types of drinks as an aphrodisiac.