All About Lemon Grass
Conveniently purchase dried and organic products from anywhere in Australia with Austral Herbs. We provide a wide array of herbs, flowers, spices, and more exotic goods, including powdered and cut lemongrass.
If you spend over $150 across our store, including one or more of our exclusive lemongrass products, you can receive free delivery. This applies nationwide, so take advantage of our diverse lemongrass offerings and product sizes to stock up today.
Key Takeaways
- The lemongrass range includes organic dried cuttings, organic powder, and teabag cuttings, all free from additives and chemical processing.
- Lemongrass offers a fresh, citrusy flavour and potential health benefits, such as supporting digestion, reducing inflammation, and promoting relaxation.
- It’s versatile across culinary, tea, beverage, naturopathy, and beauty industries, making it a valuable ingredient for both home and commercial use.
- Organic lemongrass provides higher purity and stronger flavour compared to regular lemongrass, making it ideal for culinary and health applications.
- Products are available in various pack sizes, allowing you to buy small amounts for testing or larger quantities for ongoing production or everyday use.
What is Lemon Grass?
Fresh lemongrass, whose botanical name is Cymbopogon, is a tropical plant belonging to the grass family. It can be locally sourced in Australia, but can also be found in countries across Asia and Africa.
While there are various types of lemongrass, most are cultivated for their citrusy flavour and unique aroma. For example, on many Asian dishes, a common ingredient is Cymbopogon Citratus. This lemongrass subclass is also used as a medical herb or essential ingredient in perfumes, making it a popular choice for dried stock.
Lemongrass is typically identified by its lengthy grass shoots. That's why many dried products of the grass are made from cuttings, but powders can also be made for various applications.
Benefits of Lemon Grass
For years, lemongrass has been used as a folk medicine throughout the world. From West Indian lemongrass to Australian-grown offshoots, various types of the plant have been used for more than just cooking.
It's believed that the herb's potential health benefits are best obtained by drinking lemongrass tea. However, only some benefits have scientific evidence backing them, so more research is required before the following can be completely trusted:
- The citral within lemongrass is believed to have anticancer properties, with regular consumption thought to fight off cancer cells and boost the immune system
- Lemongrass essential oil components have shown antimicrobial abilities, protecting against harmful bacteria and/or fungi in the body
- The grass contains antioxidants to address the build-up of free radicals that may cause disease
- Folk medicine often used lemongrass for its anti-inflammatory benefits, reducing the risk of conditions such as heart disease or stroke
- Can be used as a diuretic to cleanse the body of excess fluid and/or sodium
- Promotes healthy digestion
- May reduce blood pressure and regulate your cholesterol levels when taken in the form of lemongrass oil or water
- In some cases, lemongrass is believed to aid in weight loss and menstrual cramp pain
Which Industries Make Use of Lemon Grass?
Lemongrass, especially when dried, can be adapted for a range of purposes across multiple industries. Both powdered and cutting forms of the grass can be utilised for the following:
Culinary
A staple in many nationalities' dishes, fresh and dried lemongrass alike offer a fragrant flavour that's beloved by many.
Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai cooking are particularly known for their use of lemongrass stalks, adding it to curries, soups, marinades, and more. Powdered lemongrass is also useful to create sauces and pastes, applicable to stir fries or rubs on meat and fish.
For easy transportation and longevity, dried lemongrass is often used over fresh. This is especially true for the convenience of the herb being already powdered or made into cuttings.
Beverage Making
Beyond tea, lemongrass can be made into infusions that work well with cocktails. The citrusy note pairs well with sweeter goods, often also being made into a syrup to top desserts.
Powdered forms of lemongrass can make these beverage-making processes more efficient, especially when compared to raw stalks.
Tea
Lemongrass tea doesn't just offer a unique, citrus taste, it's also been a key figure in folk medicine for its numerous benefits. Once dried lemongrass powder or cuttings have been combined with hot water, the tea can be drunk, but also the steam inhaled to soothe respiratory concerns.
If used solely to be drunk, the tea is thought to mostly help in treating headaches, migraines, and inflammation.
Beauty & Skin Care
Applying lemongrass to the skin in the form of essential oils and pastes has been popular in the beauty world for many years. When used in soaps, moisturisers, shampoos, and other products, the grass is believed to cleanse and soothe the skin.
Additionally, lemongrass pastes are applied to areas with skin sores. For many, it's believed that this application may also help with physical aches and pains.
Naturopathy
Many researchers have worked hard to prove how lemongrass offers support across various health conditions and concerns. With the grass having been linked to antimicrobial and anticancer activities, as well as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, amongst other benefits, it's a popular naturopathy tool.
Dried lemongrass has also been used to create citronella oil, a key ingredient in aromatherapy, insect repellents, and candles. These various uses make lemongrass essential oil a popular product to create and sell in bulk.
Available Dried Lemon Grass Products
Austral Herbs is one of Australia's leading dried plant providers for a reason. With an array of lemongrass products to choose from, you have plenty of options to find the right match for your stocking needs.
Take your pick of product sizes as well, saving more with our 5-10kg options.
Lemon Grass Organic
Often used for culinary purposes, these dried, organic stalk cuttings provide unique, tangy notes to any dish of your choice. Perfect to bulk up your spice collection, especially in commercial settings, as we provide sizes up to 10kg.
Lemon Grass Organic Powder
A medium-fine grinding of powder, this organic lemongrass product is often used in culinary dishes and tea. Adaptable to a range of purposes, the well-known citrus aroma of the leaves stands out even when powdered.
Lemon Grass Teabag Cut Organic
Easily create your desired servings of tea with this ready-made cutting of lemongrass. Native to Southeast Asia, this product is organic-certified, sustainably grown, and free from pesticides. You can trust its quality alongside its zesty flavouring.
Lemon Grass
Large cuttings of lemongrass stalks have been carefully preserved for optimal use, including their natural oils. Ideal for processing in your desired capacity and ready for use in various serving sizes.
Frequently asked questions
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There are various ways in which lemongrass can be used, especially in the naturopathy and culinary industries. However, its most popular uses include:
- Providing a zesty taste to dishes such as curries, soups, marinades, sauces, and more
- When applied to the skin, it can help treat sores and aches
- If ingested as a tea, it may help with headaches or migraines
- Inhaling steam from lemongrass tea is often used to help soothe chest congestion
- The citronella oil processed from lemongrass is a core ingredient in insect repellent
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Although the outer leaves and topmost green parts of lemongrass stalks are used for culinary seasoning, it's only the tender inner core that's directly edible. You must cut through the tough outer layers to get to the pale, yellow centre.
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Lemongrass tea and water is generally safe to drink, but there are some exceptions. Beyond the typical exclusion of those with lemongrass allergies, those who should ask a medical professional before consuming it include:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
- Those taking certain medications, such as sedatives or those processed by the liver
- Those who have a low heart rate or potassium levels
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So long as temperatures stay above freezing, lemongrass can be grown almost year-round. This means that regular supplies of lemongrass are available at Austral Herbs so long as stocks last.
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The warm, almost tropical, climate of India is perfect growing grounds for lemongrass. That's why the country is one of the largest producers of the plant, with many key species being native to India.
