Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus, C. flexuosus

herb

Fibrous stalks of a tall tropical grass with a lemon scent, bruised to flavour Thai broths and curries, then removed. Its scent comes from citral.

Origin

Southeast Asia

Season (United States)

all year round · grows in your region

Preparation

To eat it, only the tender core at the bottom of the stalk is kept, sliced very thinly. Its scent is volatile: at the end of cooking, not the start.

Molecules

Citral

Did you know?

No wild population of it is known: its homeland remains uncertain.