How to Make Lemongrass Tea

Lemongrass is a great herb for reducing a fever or relieving stomach cramps. It also aids in digestion, especially in children, and helps ease the pain of arthritis. Outside of its healing value, some people just enjoy the mild lemon taste. You can grow lemongrass in your garden and brew your own herbal tea with it. Follow these steps to brew a perfect cup of lemongrass tea.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Gloves
• Lemongrass plant
• Knife
• Boiling water
• Tea cup
• Strainer
• Sweetener and milk if desired

1. Use gloves to protect your hands and pull a clump of lemongrass away from the parent plant. Sever the plant at the stalk with a knife to help you remove it.
2. Peel off the outer green leaves and discard. These outer green leaves will give your tea a bitter taste if they are used.
3. Cut the remaining lemongrass plant into slices.
4. Pour boiling hot water over the plant and let it sit for five minutes. Use about a tablespoon of the plant per cup.
5. Use a strainer to strain the tea.
6. Sweeten your tea and add milk if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• When your lemongrass plant is about 2 ½" tall and ¾" wide at the base, it is ready to be cut. Cut your plant at the stalk and leave the root to grow.
• Make iced lemongrass tea by using approximately eight stalks of lemongrass to one quart of boiling water. Cool the tea after straining and serve with ice.
• You can purchase dried lemongrass or even lemongrass tea bags to brew your tea.
• If you have left over lemongrass, don't throw it out. Add it to your stir fry recipes or to any marinade. Lemongrass will add a very mild lemon flavor to your recipes.